Chapter 272: All of Them Are Rampage-Level!

Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train

"The train... really isn’t as convenient as driving," Qin Xueming said with a sharp gaze. "The Abyss is expanding more and more, and the train convoys have fewer and fewer routes."

"It won’t be long before these train convoys either switch to vehicles or upgrade to full-terrain modes. But they’re faster than car convoys—many have already caught up with Dawn Center."

"Dawn Center? How big is it now?"

"Over six million people," Han Jun said calmly. "The Long March isn’t exactly an easy road."

"The final destination in the Polar region... there are more and more people arriving."

Meanwhile, on the testing plaza, the peak coefficients for Ning Jing, A Bai, and Xiao Qing had all been assessed.

Surprisingly, A Bai only scored a 1.3 peak coefficient, with a final evaluation level of 1300. This result showed his ability had strong potential, but his personal combat talent and psychological quality were only average.

Ning Jing and the others were already well aware of this. A 1300 rating had already far exceeded their expectations.

Ning Jing's peak coefficient came in at 1.6, with a final evaluation level of 1728—an outright terrifying score.

And then Xiao Qing came out, causing an uproar.

Her peak coefficient... actually reached 1.8!

Genius level!

Standing in the church’s Gospel Hall, Wen Zhuo saw this and looked surprised.

"This girl actually has a 1.8 peak coefficient. Truly exceptional."

"And she’s an Enhancer too—no ability," Zhou Wuer said, holding a snack pack as he stood beside Wen Zhuo, watching the commotion. "These two convoys really have a lot of hidden experts..."

"They're working with the Phoenix Society. Their growth profiles will be really helpful to us."

Wen Zhuo finished speaking and immediately turned to his assistant: "Flag Long Mountain No. 1 for high-level monitoring. Adjust its attention level to A and prep for upload."

"Understood," the assistant replied right away.

Below the church plaza, the crowd was already buzzing with discussion.

"1.8 peak coefficient? D*mn, a genius girl!"

"She’s got a blade—don’t tell me she’s a Gene Evolver?"

"H*ll, she looks so badass!"

"This convoy’s called Long Mountain No. 1, right? So many beasts in there—three Rampage-levels!!"

"1728? That’s easily top 10 level! And she’s a strong woman too."

...

On the Infinite Train side, people were starting to talk too.

"Whoa, that’s insane—Sister Jing actually got 1728?" Chen Sixuan said, visibly shocked. Ning Jing never showed off, but she’d seen her in action. This Power Queen really could one-punch a Snow Fiend.

"That Xiao Qing girl is Rampage-level too...?"

Miao Lu looked stunned and sighed helplessly. "She’s a Gene Evolver too, but how is she that strong?"

"Everyone has different talent and experience," Shu Qin added. "Over this period, I feel like we’ve made huge progress too. As long as we stay alive, people will keep pushing past their limits."

"Well said!"

Just as Shu Qin finished, a bold voice rang out from behind. Everyone turned to see Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian finally arriving.

"Lin Xian!"

"Brother Shi!"

"Made it just in time." Lin Xian glanced back—outside the plaza, Monica and her team were already heading up a platform they’d reserved earlier. She gave him a little smile.

"Xiao Qing’s different from the rest of you," Shi Diyuan said when he heard the Infinite Train crowd talking about her. "She was imprisoned by some sc*mbag group and went through a lot of inhuman experiments. Pretty much lived on the edge of death every day. That’s why she’s quiet now."

Chen Sixuan’s face changed slightly. She nodded and said seriously, "If she didn’t have that kind of talent, maybe she wouldn’t have gone through such hell."

"Bet it’s those disgusting b*stards from the Descent Faction," KIKI muttered, crossing her arms and clenching her fists angrily. "If I ever run into them, I’ll squish every one of those jerks."

Shasha nodded in fierce agreement. "Yeah! B*stards!"

"Alright," Lin Xian motioned forward. "It’s your turn. Hurry up. Your Brother Shi and I will go last."

Just then, not far off, Lu Xingchen lifted his sunglasses and, seeing it was the Infinite Train’s turn, finally got up with a lazy stretch in full view of the crowd—playing the part of a master effortlessly.

"I thought you were gonna be the last one."

KIKI glanced back and noticed he was still wearing an eyepatch. She chuckled at him.

"Come on. You think someone like me gives a d*mn about formalities? If you’re weak, putting on a show is pointless."

"Awww~" Shasha snorted. "Fire Bro, who cares more about putting on a show than you?"

Wearing his sunglasses, Lu Xingchen ignored their teasing and spoke coolly:

"Once you sense the Sixfold Flame and recall your past life, when you defeated an Eternal Emperor in the river of time, you’ll understand—the Flame’s Will means everything to me."

As soon as he said that, the Infinite Train girls all fell silent.

"Alright, it’s our turn."

At that moment, the staff member walked over—it was Shasha’s turn in this round.

KIKI, Lu Xingchen, Lin Xian, and Shi Diyuan would be the last group of the day.

Wen Zhuo, Zhou Wuer, and the others watching from the church tower saw Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan arrive and came down to the plaza too. Including KIKI, these were all key personnel on the Phoenix Society Nightwalkers’ watchlist. Wen Zhuo was highly focused.

"Huh, just the four of us left~"

Lin Xian saw the test equipment and let out a small breath of relief. Looks like he wouldn’t need to use Mechanical Ability to complete the test—one of his earlier concerns was now gone.

KIKI turned around and was surprised the round had ended right at her.

"More people will still be arriving in Xilan City over the next couple of days. We’re not the last group."

Lin Xian explained. He remembered the Big Eagle and Chasing Sun convoys had been traveling west along the Yunjiang Mountains toward Xilin. If nothing unexpected happened, they might reach Xilan in a couple of days.

The closer it got to the evacuation deadline, the more people would likely show up. That’s also why the Phoenix Society usually chose the latest possible evacuation time—to help as many people as possible.

At this moment, the Infinite Train team—Chen Sixuan, Daluo, Shu Qin, Lü Chang, Miao Lu, Xiao Yuan, Shasha—and the remaining three members of Long Mountain No. 1 all stepped into the queue for testing.

As she stepped into the Soul Wave Peak Pressure Tester, Chen Sixuan had a brief moment of daze. She hadn’t expected that in such a short time, she’d become a post-apocalyptic warrior facing ability evaluation.

She took a deep breath and, as the first Infinite Train member to be tested, stepped forward.

[Test complete. Peak Index: 400]

When the number 400 appeared, Chen Sixuan was instantly filled with disbelief.

On the other side, Lin Xian’s eyes widened in surprise. At this rate, Chen Sixuan might even break 500 and reach the Diamond-Level evaluation.

"Looks like those last few upgrades really helped Ms. Chen. Her combat strength is no joke now," Lin Xian thought.

What mattered more was that Chen Sixuan had some specific physical traits far beyond the average—like her observational skills, which couldn’t be fully represented by the Soul Wave Peak Index.

Sure enough, when Chen Sixuan came out of the peak coefficient simulation pod and the screen showed a 1.7 peak coefficient, Lin Xian knew it—Ms. Chen really was exceptionally gifted!

"Wow, Sister Chen actually scored 680! She’s Diamond-Level now!" KIKI exclaimed.

Lin Xian added, "Diamond-Level is said to be the threshold for handling C-Class Eerie Entities alone. If she runs into that Pale Giant now, she might really be able to take it down."

"Obviously." KIKI crossed her arms. "Sister Chen’s a deadshot sniper. One bullet and that monster’s head would be toast!"

At that moment, the rest of the data started coming in.

Xiao Yuan had the lowest result—Peak Index: 200, Peak Coefficient: 1.4, Final Evaluation: 280. She had only just evolved, so this result was within expectations. The little girl wasn’t disappointed, though—instead, she was excited. Being Evolution-Level meant she was no longer the helpless burden she used to be. On the Infinite Train, she was a dependable logistics support—her self-confidence soared.

Next up were Lü Chang and Miao Lu. Their Peak Indexes were 450 and 400, both with a 1.5 peak coefficient. Final Evaluations: 675 and 600. Both had reached Diamond-Level.

These two had already been standout combatants and made major contributions to the Infinite Train.

Then came Daluo and Shu Qin. Daluo’s Blood Aura ability had evolved rapidly, with a peak index reaching 800, while Shu Qin, as a Gene Evolver, also shockingly hit a peak index of 700.

What really stood out was that Shu Qin’s peak coefficient was 1.6, even higher than Daluo’s 1.5. So despite a 100-point difference in their peak index, both of their final evaluation ratings turned out to be 1120!

They both reached Rampage-Level!

Seeing those results, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen were all visibly shocked.

"Whoa! Big Daluo and Sister Shu Qin are killing it—we’re bringing back two sets of anti-air cannons!" KIKI exclaimed excitedly.

But the most unexpected of all was Shasha, who walked out of the peak test chamber with a face full of confidence.

This little girl only had a peak index of 300, but her peak coefficient? It was at the same level as Xiao Qing’s—1.8!

"You little rascal, you really are a natural at fighting!"

Seeing Shasha’s blushing, beaming face, KIKI rushed over and ruffled her hair. "Not bad, 540. You’re Diamond-Level now. From now on, just brawl with your fists, forget about driving your Sally mech."

Shasha instantly lifted her chin and said, "No way! That big guy’s got the most firepower in my hands. I’m only twelve—you want me to go slash monsters with a blade?"

"Hehe~, just messing with you."

"Brother Lin, everyone on your train is more awesome than the last. Even this little girl’s Diamond-Level," Shi Diyuan couldn’t help saying when he saw this.

On his own train, kids that age were still under protection. When big battles broke out, they were always the first to be hidden in safety pods. But this little girl? She was already piloting a mech as an Iron Bastion.

"This kid’s a total firepower maniac, obsessed with weapons. Don’t let her age fool you—she and her brother once drove straight out of the Dark Night together. No small feat," Lin Xian replied to Shi Diyuan in a proud tone.

"Lin Xian."

Chen Sixuan returned at that moment with the rest of the group, smiling as she approached.

"More impressive than I expected," Lin Xian said, noticing her good mood.

Chen Sixuan shot him a funny look, a bit defiant. "What, still think I’m some weak little woman?"

"I’ve never thought that," Lin Xian replied. "You’re our navigator—this strength suits you."

That made Chen Sixuan’s lips curl into a small smile. After all this time running for their lives, it was rare to see her smile like that.

"Captain Lin."

"Brother Xian."

Shu Qin and the others came over as well. "Honestly didn’t expect to reach Rampage-Level," Shu Qin said.

Daluo nodded with some confusion. "Felt like I’ve been improving really fast lately."

Of course it’s fast, Lin Xian thought. Ever since fighting their way out of Clearwater Town, the Hell Black Chrysanthemum had been transforming Evolution Energy night after night. Even Xiao Yuan could now hold her own in battle.

Speaking of Xiao Yuan, she was standing quietly at the back of the group, eyes shyly turning toward Lin Xian. He noticed and immediately gave her an encouraging glance.

Getting that affirmation, Xiao Yuan let out a long breath. Even though she had ranked lowest, the fact that Lin Xian brought her here showed he had acknowledged her. That recognition meant more than any score, and it filled her with genuine joy.

"Alright, it’s our turn now."

The staff member approached the four of them, confirming their numbers on the mobile terminal. Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, Lu Xingchen, and KIKI then stepped toward the testing platform under everyone’s gaze.

On the distant rooftop, Han Jun and the others couldn’t help but step closer, their expressions turning serious.

"Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan—leaders of the Infinite Train and Long Mountain No. 1. One commands over a thousand people, the other just thirty-something, yet both received the Crimson Phoenix Order from the Phoenix Society. Definitely not simple," said Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy.

"Counting the three just now, Long Mountain No. 1 has three Rampage-Levels, and none of their indices were low. Add over a dozen Diamond-Level fighters and a strong leader—you could totally support a convoy of a thousand."

"This Infinite Train’s even more interesting. So few people, yet they’re running a massive train with a rail-mounted electromagnetic cannon? They must all be elites. And now they’ve got two Rampage-Levels too..."

Han Jun’s pupils contracted slightly. His face grew serious as he watched the four walk toward the test. Even after scanning hundreds of people, that powerful Soul Wave fluctuation he’d sensed earlier hadn’t appeared.

That meant—it was one of these four!

At the plaza of Michelle Cathedral, Wen Zhuo, Zhou Wuer, and Peng Peng stood by the base vehicle, watching Lin Xian’s group approach. Even Peng Peng put down his game console and looked over with curiosity.

"Mechanical Ability... I wonder what kind of result that’ll bring."

Around the square, thousands of survivors began to sense something unusual in the air. All eyes turned to this corner.

"Brother Lin, I’ll go first then."

Lu Xingchen stepped forward. He was wearing a glaringly bright red hoodie, looking like a total outlier among the bundled-up crowd in -50°C Xilan City. Most survivors were wrapped in cold-weather suits or even vital sign heating devices, yet this guy? Just one layer—attention magnet fully activated.

Lu Xingchen naturally had that strong aura, like a blazing torch. At the staff’s signal, he stepped forward, arms crossed and eyes closed, standing calmly beneath the giant circular testing device.

Wuuu~ ZZZT!

The ionized air crackled, turning heads across the plaza.

[Test complete. Peak Index: 1100]

The number appeared—and a wave of gasps immediately erupted across the entire church square.

1100—the highest of the day! Even higher than Ning Jing and Qian Dele by 20 points!

The result ignited the crowd into a frenzy of discussions and exclamations.

"1100? Who is this guy?"

"No record on file..."

Even Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer were caught off guard. This was way beyond their expectations.

"1100—impressive."

Atop the building, Qin Xueming clicked his tongue. "Just barely under my 1160 and Captain Han’s 1200. This guy’s probably their main powerhouse."

"He’s with the Infinite Train? What’s with that team—how do they have so many strong people?" Green Wind’s mechanical eye zoomed in on Lu Xingchen’s face and began data logging.

Down on the plaza, Lu Xingchen heard the waves of chatter and smiled casually, walking down like a hermit master unfazed by fame.

"1100, huh? Looks like I’ve been slacking on training."

Lu Xingchen soaked in the stares with smug satisfaction, but after a couple steps, he paused.

He noticed all the gazes had suddenly vanished.

That’s when he realized... all eyes had shifted behind him.

To the girl who had just flown in.

KIKI, with her purple hair and arms folded, floated lightly through the air and landed atop the testing device. Surrounded by silence, she turned to the staff.

"Begin."

Wuuu~ ZZZT!

A powerful ion surge pulsed. KIKI’s eyes lit up with a glow, her hair flowing upward without wind. The oppressive force didn’t seem to affect her at all.

Once she sensed the test had ended, she looked up and mumbled, "So this is what dying feels like? Huh... not much to it."

But just as she was about to step down, she suddenly felt the silence around her. She turned toward the staffer—who was staring at her, wide-eyed.

[Test complete. Peak Index: 1240]

Whoosh!

After a split second of silence, the square erupted into a thunderous uproar!

"What?!"

Up on the rooftop, Qin Xueming’s face instantly changed. He dropped his hands and stared wide-eyed at the plaza. "1240?? What kind of freak is this girl?!"

Beep, beep, beep!

Green Wind’s mechanical eye rapidly scanned KIKI’s readings. "No flight waves, no wings—her flight is some kind of invisible telekinesis. Extremely abnormal."

"Psychic Control... Telekinesis-Type!?"

Even Han Jun’s normally stoic face now showed a serious expression. This didn’t affect him personally—Phoenix Society tests weren’t about competition—but seeing someone beat his peak index was still more than a little shocking.

Down in the church plaza, the crowd exploded into an uproar.

"H*ly sh*t! What the h*ll is this?!"

"That girl got 1240??"

"That’s insane—she’s even higher than Han Jun from the Arctic Wind Alliance!"

"And she can fly…"

"I knew these convoys had monsters. Guess I was right after all."

"That’s nuts, totally nuts."

"Terrifying witch…!"

In the plaza, Wen Zhuo’s sharp eyes stayed locked on the girl flying down from the testing device. He spoke, "No doubt she’s an S-Class Ability User. With such a unique Telekinesis-Type, her growth potential must be immeasurable."

Zhou Wuer slowly stuffed a piece of snack into his mouth and said, "Once this data gets sent to HQ, they’ll definitely flag the Infinite Train for high-priority monitoring."

"D*mn, that little girl’s that strong?"

Shi Diyuan, who was just about to head to the platform, couldn’t help marveling as he looked at Lin Xian.

Lin Xian was just as surprised. As the convoy’s main powerhouse, he certainly knew how strong KIKI was—but 1240? That number still caught him off guard.

Over on the side, Lu Xingchen watched KIKI walk down the stage. He took a deep breath and quietly closed his eyes.

"No big deal. No big deal. That woman’s a freak. As the Flame God, I walk a path of stability. No comparison, no comparison."

With that, he turned and entered the Peak Coefficient Simulation Pod.

At last, it was Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan’s turn. The two stepped up one after the other. As the leaders of their respective convoys—and following the jaw-dropping results from Lu Xingchen and KIKI—all eyes locked on them, the atmosphere thick with tension.

Lin Xian took the first step forward. As the massive testing device loomed overhead, waves of energy spun above him, emitting a faint hum. He closed his eyes, choosing to ignore the crowd’s stares.

Wuuu~

The Soul Wave Peak Pressure Tester began charging, vibrating with a low rumble.

ZZZT!

In the next instant, a powerful surge of energy poured down, as if an invisible wave slammed into Lin Xian’s mind.

HUMMMM—

His Mechanical Heart instinctively kicked into overdrive!

[Non-mechanical energy detected. Activating shielding protocol.]

A glowing screen flashed in his vision. He immediately felt his Mechanical Heart slow down—none of that near-death shock Zhou Wuer had mentioned.

Just then, as the screen in front of his eyes faded, a woman’s figure suddenly appeared in the darkness before him.

Lin Xian’s expression changed sharply. It was her—the same woman he’d seen in his dreams at the Jiang City shelter!

Now, she was wearing a strange, all-encompassing Fully Enclosed Armor Suit, with numerous cables plugged into her body. She stood atop a testing device and seemed to sense his gaze. She immediately opened her eyes and locked eyes with him.

"You again. Who the h*ll are you?!"

This time, before Lin Xian could speak, the woman asked him first.

"Chu Yan, who are you talking to?"

Lin Xian opened his mouth to reply, but then several people in research suits rushed forward, urgently checking the woman’s vitals.

Still, the woman never took her eyes off Lin Xian.

A moment later, Lin Xian snapped back to consciousness. The strange vision was gone.

His heart was pounding. He now understood for sure—this woman wasn’t some figment of his imagination. For some reason, he’d actually peered across space into someone real!

And there had to be some connection between them. Why else would she appear in his shelter room back in Jiang City?!

The thought flashed by. He quickly refocused. Ahead, Shi Diyuan was still waiting for his turn and now looking up at the screen where Lin Xian’s test results were about to display.

[Test complete. Peak Index: 1050]

Unexpectedly, while Lin Xian’s score was high, it didn’t surpass KIKI or Lu Xingchen.

"Whoa, Brother Lin—1050’s still crazy strong!" Shi Diyuan exclaimed, clearly surprised. He knew Lin Xian’s ability was extremely powerful in function, but this score also showed he was no slouch in combat.

Elsewhere, Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer exchanged glances—both looking surprised.

They had assumed, naturally, that as the convoy leader, Lin Xian would have the highest peak score. This result caught even Monica, Qian Dele, and Han Jun on the rooftop by surprise.

"Strange. He’s third in his own convoy?" Qin Xueming frowned.

"1050 is definitely Rampage-Level," the short-haired woman Green Wind muttered, "but I’ve never seen a leader with a lower ability score than their team."

In the apocalypse, where Ability Users and Enhancers continually evolve, the greatest challenge humanity faces is survival against the dark entities. In this kind of societal collapse, strength is the most direct way to maintain social rank and order. Even though civilization hadn’t fully fallen, and people still valued intellect and leadership, most groups still operated on power. Even in the Phoenix Society, a formal organization, it was leaders who commanded Starfleet-level armed forces that ensured order was upheld.

So to Han Jun and the others, this situation seemed a bit unusual.

"Too early to judge. Let’s see the Coefficient next," Han Jun said as he watched Lin Xian head toward the simulation pod.

Those who had already finished, like Chen Sixuan and the others, weren’t surprised at all by Lin Xian’s number. Everyone on the Infinite Train knew KIKI and Fire Bro were strong fighters—but that would never shake Lin Xian’s absolute authority.

The entire Infinite Train had been built by him. Weapon systems, energy cores, everything. The reason those thirty-something people survived the Dark was entirely because of him.

And it wasn’t just his strength or technical skills—whether in Underground City No. 9, Yubei Spaceport, Rain Town, Clearwater Town, or the Snowfields, Lin Xian was the one who always broke the deadlock and saved thousands—even tens of thousands—including everyone on the Infinite Train.

So what could a single number really say?

[Test complete. Peak Index: 1100]

Just then, Shi Diyuan finished his test and headed for the Coefficient Simulation Pod.

WHOA—

The plaza boiled over again.

All four had broken the 1000-point mark. All four were Rampage-Level monsters. Turns out the real show was saved for last.

Seeing this, everyone now turned their full attention to the Coefficient Evaluations, waiting for the four to emerge from the pods.

Lin Xian’s face remained serious. His mind kept replaying that vision—he now knew that woman, Chu Yan, had seen him too. This wasn’t the first time.

Led by staff, Lin Xian entered the simulation pod.

He came back to his senses and heard the staff member say,

"Hello, please remove your Power Armor. This test can’t use any external gear."

Lin Xian nodded and took the armor off.

"The test lasts 5 minutes. You’ll face a series of preset attacks. If you feel unwell, say ‘Stop.’ After that, please refrain from using any abilities."

"All attacks are holographic AR simulations—they’re not real. When using your abilities, please be cautious to avoid self-harm."

Didn’t sound too complicated.

Lin Xian stepped inside and found himself in a hemispherical space. The walls were made from black nano-carbon ceramic alloy, extremely valuable and reinforced. Breaking it would be nearly impossible. It was waterproof, fireproof, bulletproof—clearly built as an “exam chamber” for testing full-power ability usage in crisis scenarios.

[Identification confirmed. Test subject ID D19529527. Welcome, Lin Xian. Please say when you're ready.]

A mechanical female voice rang out.

Taking it all in, Lin Xian drew a deep breath and said, "Begin."

[Test commencing shortly.]

As the voice fell, the entire pod went dark. Moments later, holographic projections lit up the walls—it was like stepping into a virtual world. Incredibly realistic.

Lin Xian found himself in the middle of a ruined city, zombies wandering all around. Up above, grotesque bat-like Eerie Entities hung from skyscrapers. Thunder rolled across the sky as a torrential downpour fell, surrounding him in pure horror.

"Pretty realistic environment."

The moment he saw the scene, Lin Xian had a good guess about the test format.

"In that case..."

ZZT ZZT ZZT—

Mechanical light flashed, electric surges crackled in Lin Xian’s hand, and a translucent AT Field unfolded in front of him. At the same time, countless metal materials erupted into the air…

In the plaza of Michelle Cathedral, all eyes were locked on the four Peak Coefficient Testing Pods. Once the results came out, their full ability evaluation levels would be confirmed.

Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer were especially focused on the pods of Lin Xian and KIKI, eager to see how high a Mechanical Ability User and a Telekinesis-Type would go.

But just as tens of thousands waited in silence, a sudden gunshot shattered the calm of the plaza!

And it wasn’t just a regular shot—it was the deafening roar of some large-caliber Gatling gun!!

DUDUDU!!!

The moment it rang out, every survivor instinctively flinched and ducked, their eyes darting around to locate the source.

They may have been spectators, but everyone here had honed danger sense. The moment that sound ripped through the air, many thought they were under attack. Some even drew their weapons.

In a flash, chaos broke out. Even Phoenix Society security and soldiers from the Investigation Corps were scanning for targets, ready to respond.

But a few seconds later, people realized—there was no threat.

That intense gunfire? It came from inside one of the testing pods!

"Wait, what the h*ll?"

"Didn’t they say no gear allowed inside?"

"Yeah, I saw the staff check them!"

"Could it be not a gun? Maybe it’s just some ability that sounds like one?"

Over on the Infinite Train side, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, Daluo, Shasha, and the others all glanced at each other. The initially tense atmosphere suddenly cracked into restrained laughter.

Because the second that sound rang out—they all knew exactly who it was.

"Brother Lin must’ve…" Shasha said, trying not to giggle. She’d been inside the test pod before—it was a simulated survival scenario. It tested not only one’s powers but also real-time reactions and situational awareness. She could already picture what Lin Xian was doing in there.

What no one expected was for the normally noisy plaza to have gone so quiet, making the gunfire unbelievably loud and out of place.

DUDU~

The Gatling gun’s roar echoed again, followed moments later by an explosion!

BOOM!!!

Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer frowned, glancing toward that pod. Since it was a fully enclosed space, no one outside had any idea what was going on inside.

Finally, amid the confusion, the progress indicators on the four pods lit up—testing complete.

And with that, the battlefield sounds inside vanished.

SSHH—

The pod doors opened. One of the nearby staff members was already panicking, face full of anxiety and disbelief. She had personally checked Lin Xian for weapons—he’d been clean.

But now? All those explosions and gunfire… Had she seriously messed up?

She kept thinking, How could he possibly sneak in that many weapons?

As the door opened, a thick wave of gunpowder smoke rolled out. Lin Xian calmly stepped out, waiting for his results.

The staffer rushed inside immediately.

A dense smell of cordite hit her nose. She stepped in and froze. The nano-carbon ceramic alloy walls were covered in tight clusters of scorch marks—energy-absorbed bullet traces. The once-black walls looked like they’d been painted silver.

Strangest of all, there wasn’t a single bullet casing or round to be found. The whole room was empty.

Just smoke.

"What the hell?"

She was the closest one. The gunfire inside had sounded like a front-line battlefield—yet when the test ended, nothing?

Meanwhile, KIKI stepped out of her pod and immediately glanced at Lin Xian. Her lips curled into a grin. She had heard all the ruckus inside while she was testing—nearly lost focus because of it.

Right then, the Coefficient Ratings came out.

Shi Diyuan matched Ning Jing with a score of 1.6, final ability rating: 1760.

As a C-Class Beast-Type Ability User, this was an impressive feat. Among the four, Shi Diyuan’s ability was the most basic, but with that rating, no one could underestimate the leader of a thousand-strong convoy.

Then came the results for KIKI and Lu Xingchen. Surprisingly, KIKI’s peak coefficient was also 1.6, while Lu Xingchen surpassed her with 1.7!

Seeing the number, Lu Xingchen narrowed his eyes in smug satisfaction.

"As expected. My talent is unmatched—this is fact."

Finally, something to salvage his pride. He was clearly pleased.

Final evaluation scores:

• Lu Xingchen: 1870

• KIKI: 1984

KIKI pouted a little. If she hadn’t been distracted by Lin Xian’s antics, she probably would’ve broken the 2000 mark. But she didn’t really care—Rampage-Level was Rampage-Level. Whether it was 1984 or 2000 made little difference to her.

"A convoy with two nearly-2000 Rampage-Levels... The Infinite Train may not have many people, but it’s full of monsters," Qin Xueming said from the rooftop, arms crossed. "Looks like their leader is going the elite route."

"With a convoy that small, I bet in the next couple days a bunch of people will be begging to join up," Green Wind added.

She then turned to Han Jun. "They’re a train convoy too. Think we should make contact?"

Han Jun said nothing, eyes still locked on Lin Xian’s pod. For some reason, his data was taking longer than the others.

Just then, in the plaza below, the final screen finally lit up. On the pod above Lin Xian, a number slowly began to appear.

As it formed, Han Jun’s expression cracked.

[2]

Instant silence swept across the church plaza.

People rubbed their eyes—thinking they were seeing things.

That screen had never shown a number other than 1 for days.

Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer’s faces both changed dramatically.

"2? What the... 1.2?"

"Did it glitch?"

"How could it hit 2?"

"Wait—it is 2!"

"So that means... his final ability evaluation is..."

"2100?!?!"

"Hly sht—2100?! That’s higher than Han Jun!!"

"Who is this guy?!"

The crowd went wild. Even Lin Xian looked a bit stunned. The simulation inside had thrown every crisis at him—he’d had to build metal armor, deploy his AT Field, and craft weapons on the fly. It had been intense, but not harder than yesterday’s battle in the Snowfields.

To end up with a perfect score? Even he didn’t see that coming.

Only one downside—he hadn’t been able to truly test the defense limits of his AT Field. Everything inside had been AR projections, all contact-based triggers. They’d triggered reactions, but didn’t pack real destructive force.

"Can’t say I’m surprised, Brother Lin. That was amazing," Shi Diyuan said with a booming laugh as he walked over. For him, this test was just a favor to the Phoenix Society—he didn’t really care about the scores. What mattered were the anti-air cannons and supplies.

Seeing Lin Xian’s score, Shi Diyuan wasn’t surprised at all. He had seen firsthand what Lin Xian could do at the spaceport and in the snowfields.

When a mountain crumbles, it’s men like this who hold it up.

On the rooftop, Han Jun and his two companions were reeling from the result. Qin Xueming looked dumbfounded, glancing sideways at Han Jun. Who would’ve guessed the leader of a 30-person convoy would outscore the leader of the ten-thousand-strong Arctic Wind Alliance?

Han Jun’s face was serious but intrigued. His eyes stayed locked on the figure in the plaza.

After a moment, he said,

"It’s over. Let’s go introduce ourselves."