Chapter 161: Free Ride
He felt a subtle vibration emanating from outside his eggshell, located among other stuffs in the container.
It had been his best option when he entered it.
By assuming the guise of an egg, he bet on the chance that they would merely pass him off as part of the collection, a mere art piece among many.
The egg he had created around himself featured a striking pattern of black and red lightning.
To the untrained eye, it appeared as an intricate piece of artwork, blending seamlessly with the other stuff in the container .
It had been a risky gamble, but one that ultimately paid off .
'Close call,' he chuckled to himself, grateful for the incompetence of the haulers.
It seemed they never considered the possibility of a monster like him lurking inside the egg.
Now he just needed to wait here until he reached the next city.
THUD!
The reverberating thud echoed through his container, signaling its safe loading onto the train.
Even without seeing it, he could feel the vibration beneath him, confirming its secure placement .
As he waited for everything to be finished, he noticed occasional scratching sounds echoing around him.
Each scrape hinted at the arrival of more containers being placed beside his own, filling the space with sounds of movement and activity.
After 30 minutes, the sound stop, replaced by a buzzing noise akin to a metal door closing in.
'Finally over,' he sighed
All he craved now was to sleep.
It wasn't fatigue that drove this desire, but the confinement of the small space. The limited room made him long to sleep through the entire journey.
However, he couldn't afford to relax just yet.
He wanted to figure out how this train would leaved this seemingly confined tunnel, relying on the vibrations around him to get insight into the process.
Why bother with the vibration?
His abilities had frustrating limitations. His Undead eyes couldn't see through walls as he desired.
With this ability, he could only see people or any other living organism on the other side of walls, but nothing else around them, especially non living organism.
He lacked x-ray vision; in his view, he could only perceive their energy signature and nothing more.
CREAK!
CREAK!
CREAK!
As the train started to jolt, he felt his body being lifted up.
At first, he was disoriented, unsure of what was happening.
But then it clicked.
It wasn't moving forward; it was being lifted toward the surface.
The train ascended steadily, the vibrations beneath him intensifying with each passing moment.
He could hear the large gears grinding and clanking, straining to lift the massive train.
The sounds and movements made his confined space feel even smaller, increasing his desire to sleep through the entire journey.
Then, suddenly, there was a final crank, and he felt the unmistakable sensation of the train breaking through the surface.
'So that's how they did it,' he mused inwardly.
The train was now surrounded by black miasma, its imposing appearance shrouded in darkness.
Despite this ominous dark atmosphere , its sturdy frame and formidable presence remained unchanged.
"Connect the other rail cars!" commanded a person in a full black armor combat suit.
The suit, equipped with a gas tank, hissed softly as he moved.
His helmet, designed to filter out the toxic miasma, sealed tightly around his head, ensuring he could breathe safely.
Without wasting time , the crew sprang into action, quickly attaching additional rail cars to the waiting train .
Travel between cities was not that common, so the armored train made the most of each journey by maximizing its load.
As the crew diligently connected the additional rail cars, their eyes scanned the assortment of cars now joining the train.
First came the cargo cars, their sturdy frames laden with crates and containers of various sizes.
Some bore the markings of food supplies, while others held equipment and machinery essential for the functioning of distant outposts and cities.
These cars were the lifeblood of the journey, ensuring that vital resources reached their destinations in a timely manner.
Following closely behind were the troop transport cars, their interiors outfitted with rows of seating and storage compartments.
Here, soldiers in uniform awaited departure.
Alongside them were the armored vehicles, their sleek designs a testament to their capabilities.
Tanks and other heavy weaponry were secured tightly to the flatbed cars, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice should the need arise.
Amidst the cargo and military equipment, there were also cars dedicated to civilian passengers.
These cars boasted comfortable seating and amenities designed to make the journey as pleasant as possible.
Families huddled together, their belongings stowed neatly overhead as they waited for the train to run again
As the final cars were connected, the sound of the train slowly accelerating roared to life, drowning out all other noise.
Reign felt the force pressing him back into his container as the train surged forward, picking up speed with each passing moment.
The train he was inside of was unlike any he had ever encountered in his old world.
This was no ordinary locomotive; it was a marvel of modern engineering, powered by a nuclear engine that propelled it forward with astonishing speed.
Unlike traditional trains limited by the capabilities of their engines, this advanced marvel could carry a lot of load, without sacrificing its speed too much.
'It's time to sleep,' he muttered to himself.
Curling into a fetal position, he shut down his eyes and began to drift off.
He had no plans to do anything until his container was unloaded, letting the vibrations of the train lull him into a deep sleep.
"Hey, did you hear what happened to the other armored train?" a train officer spoke.
He was wearing a train officer's blue uniform, which included a neatly pressed jacket adorned with brass buttons, crisp trousers, and a matching cap with a shiny badge.
His polished black boots and a utility belt carrying various tools completed the look, giving him a professional appearance.
Another person train staff spoke, his interest piqued. "Were there any casualties?"
The officer shook his head. "Thankfully, no. But the train sustained some damage. It's in the repair yard now, undergoing extensive maintenance."
"Sounds intense," the man remarked, glancing out the window where all he could see was darkness.
"It was," the officer agreed. "But our crews are well-trained to handle these situations. Safety is always our top priority."
The man nodded in understanding, a sense of respect evident in his expression.
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"Well, I'm glad everyone made it out okay."
"Me too," the officer replied with a solemn nod. "Let's hope we have a smooth journey ahead of us."
Outside, the miasma swirled ominously, casting darkness over the landscape. But the train pressed on, its powerful engines propelling it forward .
Meanwhile, within the various compartments of the train, passengers and crew members alike exchanged stories to kill some time.
Despite the oppressive presence of the miasma, there was an unspoken sense of unity among those aboard the armored train.
Little did they know, there was someone far more dangerous than the miasma outside—a powerful monster who was currently sleeping without a care in the world.