Car No. 5
The Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun in Luo Ye’s hands had already run out of bullets, its rotating barrels glowing red-hot. Without hesitation, he picked up his old M556 Light Machine Gun and continued firing.
In the middle of the carriage, Lu Xingchen cracked open the automatic door just enough to unleash torrents of fire, igniting vast stretches of trees along the way!
Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan listened to Ding Junyi’s words, all showing confusion.
“Stop? Why?”
Without wasting a second, Ding Junyi grabbed her mobile terminal, displaying the recently recorded changes in the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum for Lin Xian to see.
“I still don’t know why those parasites are drawn to Blood Scourge Flora No. 1, but the shift in its red glow—I think I’ve found the reason.”
Lin Xian’s expression hardened. On the screen, the crimson glow of the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum had intensified dramatically at a specific mont—visible to the naked eye!
Ding Junyi spoke urgently, “Since the Blood Scourge Flora No. 1 was first recorded in the lab, there have been three instances of increased brightness and one instance of dimming. The three tis it turned red were when we escaped from Underground City No. 9, from Yubei Spaceport, and just now—from Rain Town!
“Although the sample size is too small to reach a rigorous scientific conclusion, this is a matter of life and death. So, considering the Predator Effect, I have a bold hypothesis:
“These Dark Entities leave so kind of invisible mark on prey they don’t kill. The red glow on the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum is the physical manifestation of that mark—just like how the scent of blood in a forest attracts more predators. It makes us a bigger target for more Eerie Entities in the dark.”
She took a deep breath and continued, “This marking might be how Dark Entities communicate. There’s also another possibility—the larger the Eerie Entity, the deeper the mark it leaves on us.
“If we explain what happened in Yubei City using the Predator Effect, then consider this—we didn’t gain any new mbers after leaving Rain Town, yet the mont we stepped outside its territory, the red glow on the chrysanthemum changed! And imdiately after, we were sward by Dark Entities!
“That’s why I believe that if we keep running, and the marking accumulates past a certain threshold, we’ll et the sa fate as Fireline Convoy—total annihilation!”
Ding Junyi finished in one breath, her eyes flickering. With her ticulous personality, making such a subjective claim was incredibly difficult. She also understood that if her theory was wrong but the team followed it, it could lead to their complete destruction.
After hearing her, the three in the cockpit grew even more serious. Lin Xian furrowed his brows.
“So, you think the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum is acting as a warning for us humans?”
Ding Junyi shook her head. “Not exactly. But since this plant can absorb Dark Energy, it proves that Blood Scourge Flora No. 1 has the ability to perceive it. By that logic, the marks left by Dark Entities must also be a form of Dark Energy.
“But that’s just one aspect. Its other functions will require more sampling and experim—”
“Ding Junyi!”
Lin Xian’s sharp voice cut through, stopping her mid-sentence. His expression was grave as he snapped, “Skip the analysis. Give a conclusion—now!”
Outside, the battlefield roared with explosions. Swarms of Eerie Entities kept slamming into the train’s armored plating, testing its limits. Lin Xian was already at his limit—this was not the ti for lengthy scientific reasoning.
Ding Junyi flinched at his outburst. She opened her mouth in shock, then quickly steeled herself.
“Two options,” she stated firmly. “One—stop the train and kill every single Eerie Entity around us, completely erasing the mark.
“Two—turn back to Rain Town and eliminate the Large Parasite and the Impostor Parasites. I recomnd the second option.
“From a biological perspective, creatures that rely on traps tend to lack strong defense or escape capabilities. They’re naturally fragile, which is why they need camouflage or traps to survive.
“The Large Parasite relies on splitting reproduction and Impostor Parasites for hunting. It has a fixed territory, aning its combat capability might not be higher than the Eerie Entities we face in the dark.
“anwhile, our current crisis keeps escalating endlessly. Instead of dealing with this nightmare, Option Two has a much higher success rate.
“That’s my conclusion.”
KIKI and Chen Sixuan exchanged looks of disbelief, then turned to Lin Xian. His expression was darker than ever.
As the team leader, every choice he made decided the team’s survival. Ding Junyi’s theory gave them a ray of hope, but also left him with a terrifying decision.
Lin Xian’s mind raced. His instincts scread that Ding Junyi’s marking hypothesis was most likely correct.
It explained the Predator Effect.
It explained why the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum changed after leaving Rain Town.
And most importantly—it aligned with sothing he had always suspected.
The Pale Giant that chased them from Jiang City.
The Crimson Dragonfly that pursued them from Yushan to Beiwang.
The Sky Jellyfish that appeared after they escaped Underground City No. 9.
The full-scale ambush they suffered after fleeing Yubei.
Even the Iron Guard Battalion, hunted relentlessly by the Atmospheric Mica from Mount Daluo all the way to Yubei Spaceport.
Hunter. Marking. The crimson glow of the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum.
It all made sense.
Even last night, when KIKI casually ntioned it—how the more they ran, the more monsters ca—it was like they had a bounty on their heads in the dark.
The team’s growth was just the surface issue. The real problem was the mark on them, amplifying their danger in the night.
If this theory was correct, then the safest strategy wasn’t to keep running—it was to eliminate every marked enemy and enter stealth mode.
It was counterintuitive. Most people wouldn’t think of it—or wouldn’t live long enough to figure it out.
Because the Dark Entities could communicate.
And that communication—was the Hunter’s Mark.
SCREEECH!!
Suddenly, the Infinite Train slamd into an ergency brake!
Many Eerie Entities crashed into the train’s hull, so thrown off by sheer inertia. The tide of enemies sward the side carriages.
Everyone inside grabbed onto whatever they could.
Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian, knowing—stopping ant he had made his choice.
WOOO!!
The electric engine roared, and before anyone could catch their breath, the train reversed direction!
“Lin Xian!!” Chen Sixuan shouted.
“We’re going back.” Lin Xian locked eyes with Ding Junyi. “I believe you.”
Ding Junyi’s gaze burned with determination. She simply nodded and turned toward Car No. 3.
As a researcher, the only way she could contribute was through knowledge and information.
As a team mber, this was her duty.
The entire train suddenly reversing caught everyone off guard.
Lin Xian’s voice rang through the train’s communication system.
“Everyone, get ready. We’re returning to Rain Town. Don’t save bullets. Kill everything that moves.”
“Roger that.” Shu Qin acknowledged imdiately, trusting him without question.
“Got it, Lin-ge!” Shasha chid in.
“Wait, does that an we’re heading out to fight?” Lu Xingchen asked, almost excited.
“We’ll see.” Lin Xian responded decisively, pushing the Twin Star 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive to full throttle.
He didn’t know if Blue Planet’s biological theories applied to Dark Entities, but he had already chosen to trust Ding Junyi.
And in his mind—a plan was already forming.
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