Chapter 16 Arrival

"I think I should be the one to go out," said Professor Han. "We are already short on hands, and to allocate someone to watch over me..."

"Having one more or one less person won't make much of a difference," Xu Huo replied. "If light is the only condition for those monsters to be active, one person can hold the fort. If not, having a few more people won't help either."

Professor Han still worried about mutating, but Wang Xiaohui mustered her courage and said, "I'll stay with Professor Han."

"You all saw my ability just now. Although I am not very mobile, I can seal off a corner. Even if something happens to Professor Han, you all will have time to react."

The transition carriage wasn't safe, but it wasn't certain that Professor Han would mutate. They couldn't let him go out to die just because of that.

Xu Huo had no objections and stood by the window, silently waiting for the darkness to come.

A few minutes later, the light around the train began to vanish. The train sped through this darkness for about an hour before it suddenly started to shake. This time the shaking lasted longer and was more intense than the previous two nights.

Feeling the weight outside increase substantially, Xu Huo frowned involuntarily, but before the storm passed, a loud thud came from behind, as if something heavy had fallen onto the carriage. The whole train seemed to lurch momentarily, while at the same time, the weight pressing down on the table receded like the tide!

Something had boarded the train!

Everyone inside the carriage tensed up, their focus entirely on the grating noise of twisting metal from behind. The transition carriage seemed to be dismembered; the rear end of the Third-Class Seat compartment sank slightly. Then something struck the rear door. Amidst the "creak, creak" sounds and wind entering through the gaps, the opening was quickly sealed again. After a brief stagnation of air inside the carriage, a warm breeze carrying the scent of blood slowly wafted in from behind...

"Uh..." A faint whimper squeezed through Liu Jia's fingers.

It was this small sound that drew the heavy object clinging to the rear door upward quickly, crawling up the side of the carriage to the roof. A piercing scraping noise echoed on the glass, followed by shattering. Drip-drop sounds of water falling mixed with strong wind pouring in from above, something began to sway within the carriage!

The doors at both ends were not transparent, so even though the rear door was deformed from the grabbing, Liu Jia couldn't see clearly what was chasing the train. However, the paw prints much larger than any ordinary beast and the blood-scented wind instinctively terrified her. She covered her mouth and closed her eyes.

But the creature was still drawn to the faint sound. Hearing the glass shatter, her mind went into disarray, and she couldn't help but open her eyes, only to see a monstrous tongue rolling toward her!

Liu Jia was petrified with fear!

A hand reached from behind, covering her mouth and stifling her scream!

A piece of broken glass flew out of the carriage and hit the stone wall on one side of the train, and the tongue that was almost licking Liu Jia's face withdrew abruptly. The sound of breaking stones followed, but the fast-moving train left it far behind in an instant!

Xu Huo lightly pressed Liu Jia's shoulder and made a silent gesture. Regardless of whether he could see her or not, Liu Jia covered her mouth with both hands and nodded frantically.

Xu Huo stepped back from her and returned to his seat just as a bright light suddenly illuminated the front of the train. It lasted but an instant, yet in the pitch-black darkness, it was as prominent as a spotlight!

In that moment, the now steady train once again started to shake. It sounded as if a legion had thundered across its shell!

The massive shadow caught up with the train again, sweeping over the Second Class Seat compartment, faint screams and cries for help buried beneath roars and ripping sounds. The train swayed from side to side as if it was about to fall apart, but after a few short minutes, the calm was restored. In an eerie silence, it continued to hurtle forward...

"Ding-dong!"

"Congratulations to all the prospective players for completing the preliminary test on the train copy and becoming official players of the Dimensional Rift. Due to staff mistakes, the train encountered a Rank-D event. As an apology, each player will receive one ticket free of charge. Please check to receive it."

"This train no. 301 will arrive at the station in ten seconds. Please prepare to disembark."

"The countdown begins, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"

...

As his field of view brightened once again, Xu Huo found himself alone in a pure white space. The train and other passengers had all vanished, fireworks bursting around him, with his personal panel popping up in front of him:

[Congratulations to Player Passerby A, you did not consume any player on this journey, killed one Cannibal Player and one regular player, and have become an official Black Player. Note: The Preliminary Train does not have dungeon functions, so you cannot obtain the items of the killed players.]

[Your performance during the ride has been rated as Rank-C Excellent. As the player with the highest comprehensive index among the survivors on train 301, you have acquired the new trait "Insider's Perspective", the item "Super Running Shoes", the Rank-C additional reward "Arsonist's Tool" for completing the evaluation, a new wealth of 2000 White Notes, eight potions, and an extra gift package from Chef Yongxing.]

[The following data has been updated]

[Player Nickname: Passerby A]

[Player Type: Black Player]

[Profession: Passerby]

[Remarks: As someone perpetually on the road, his chances of becoming the main character are one in ten thousand.]

[Player Level: E]

[Number: 556688]

[Evolution Rate: 7%]

[Wealth: 2000 White Notes]

[Remarks: A player who can earn and spend money, how could there be no rewards in the game?]

[Main Traits: ① Tireless Legs; ② Insider's Perspective]

[Remark 1: Congratulations to player for developing a new trait, the always unintentionally informed Passerby A could not do without a pair of observant eyes.]

[Items: ①Super Running Shoes (Remark: When speed isn't enough, running shoes step up, work for ten minutes, charge for a whole day. Double-tap the heel for a 30% speed boost.)

②Arsonist's Tool (Remark: Apart from lighting cigarettes, it can ignite people, too. Open the lighter, say "Burn" to the target, and their clothing will spontaneously ignite. Not applicable to those who prefer streaking.)]

[Potions: ① P0 Evolution Potion 3 bottles (Remark: As the lowest level of Evolution Potion, it can only slowly evolve a player's physique. Players with an evolution rate lower than 10% must consume one bottle each month at least. Players can acquire Evolution Potions by completing games, and of course, they might also be hidden in unexpected places. Oh, and there is also a P1 version.)

② Level E Self-healing Agent 2 bottles (Remark: An outdated product, only used for relieving pain.)

③ Level E Cleaning Potion 2 bottles (Remark: A high-efficiency product for eliminating traces, durable and long-lasting, the most common game reward. To increase the game's difficulty, it's even given to the Cannibal Players for free as a gift, utterly dignity-free.)

④ Level D Hair Growth Potion 1 bottle (Remark: Gently apply to achieve the desired smooth and silky hair. The middle-aged professor who developed it is willing to give it to every player at risk of balding. Note that it is challenging to grow hair out of nothing, so its effects only last one week.)]

[Gift Package: One Yongxing Restaurant Membership Card, one 10% Discount Coupon (Remark: A token of appreciation from the head chef, anyone who respects food deserves respect.)]

[Ticket Holder: Clown Town Station, Hot Spring Mountain City Station, Garden Castle Station (Remark: These are single journey tickets, must complete the dungeon to obtain the Return Ticket.)]

[Reminder: Players must use a ticket to ride the train once every natural month; failure to enter the game within the time limit will result in the player being forcibly transported to the station three hours before the deadline.]

[Next game countdown: 12 days.]