23:59 on the seventh day.
Renee Kane confirmed her game was saved one last time, changed into a solid black windbreaker, and shouldered her backpack.
0:00.
A mechanical voice sounded in everyone's ears:
[The apocalypse is upon you. Only the Infinite Train can carry you through the darkness to a new future. The train has arrived at the station. In 30 seconds, everyone will be teleported to the platform. Please gather any necessary supplies as quickly as possible.]
(Friendly Reminder: In this apocalypse, disaster runs rampant. We hope the supplies you carry will help you survive.)
Hearing that familiar voice again, Renee Kane's body trembled slightly—not from nervousness, but from pure excitement!
When the countdown ended, the world before her shattered like glass, revealing the station and the green-skinned train behind it.
She was back where the nightmare began.
As the train appeared, Renee saw her vast, boundless inventory space in her mind, filled to the brim with supplies. A burning sensation spread through her body—it was the Physical Transformation Card. She could feel her strength growing steadily.
A sense of calm washed over her.
The platform was instantly packed with people, most of them in their pajamas, their faces filled with panic.
The unbelievable method of transport and the contents of the broadcast left everyone in disbelief, yet they were gripped by a subconscious fear.
Amid the noisy chaos, the train's announcement echoed clearly in everyone's mind.
[The train will stop for five minutes. Please purchase your tickets and board in an orderly fashion. A-Level Carriage: 1000 Life Value. B-Level Carriage: 500 Life Value. C-Level Carriage: 100 Life Value. D-Level Carriage: 50 Life Value. The last carriage requires no ticket.]
[As a first-station bonus, you may exchange supplies for a certain amount of Life Value. Life Value is the sole currency on the train. When your Life Value reaches zero, you will die. Please manage it wisely.]
"I only have 100 Life Value in total! You want me to pay with my life?!"
"I... I only have 20 Life Value, but my paralyzed legs... I can stand on them again!"
"How come I have 90? Is it based on our health?"
"Exchange my ass! Only an idiot wouldn't take the free ride!"
...
Only Renee Kane ignored the crowd, heading straight for the A-Level carriage with a clear goal in mind.
The A-Level section took up an entire carriage!
The spacious carriage had its own bedroom, dining area, restroom, and shower... It even had small supply shelves and a gym.
Of course, anything involving supplies had to be purchased or used by spending Life Value.
Renee recalled her past life. Vincent Sherman and his parents had watched from a carriage just like this one, taking pleasure in her struggle in the last carriage—a place with no seats, no humanity, and no dignity. With a cold smile, she spent 500 Life Value to locate Vincent Sherman.
This was a privilege for A-Level passengers. Not only could they pinpoint a specific person's location, but they could also view their personal information.
Don't ask how she knew. The answer was simple: she'd been located before.
To Renee's surprise, Vincent Sherman was in a D Level carriage, and his Life Value was down to just 45.
Thin, iron seats were crammed neatly into the carriage, their ninety-degree backrests so uncomfortable that just looking at them made one's back ache.
Logically, since he worked out regularly and was in the prime of his life, his Life Value should have been around 180. That would have been more than enough for a C Level carriage...
Renee suddenly remembered what she had done to him before she left, and she couldn't help but laugh.
'Looks like he spent quite a bit of Life Value trying to cure his "golden needle mushroom."'
Nearby, a nervous Theo Sherman and Chloe Finch said to Vincent Sherman, "Vincent, weren't these tickets too expensive? Your mother and I only have a little over ten Life Value left after buying ours..."
Vincent Sherman's face was grim as he scrolled through the IDs in the chat hall, searching one by one. "What's there to be afraid of? That bitch ran away and sold off all the assets. She must have known something in advance. I bet she has a ton of supplies on hand."
"Once we find her, we'll have everything we need. And if we can't find her, I'll just post her information in the chat hall. I'll tell everyone she's carrying a huge stash of supplies. If we can't live well, she can forget about having an easy time of it!"
Renee wasn't surprised by this at all.
She chuckled and sent Vincent Sherman a friend request. "An A-Level carriage can bring one family member. Add me if you want to come over. The offer is valid until the train departs."
Vincent Sherman accepted in a split second, without even bothering to consult his parents.
"Do you voluntarily agree to enter the territory of Carriage A-1? Yes/No."
Vincent Sherman saw the word "territory" and was just about to ask Renee Kane what it meant when the train's whistle blew for the first time.
The train was about to depart.
He had no time to hesitate and could only click "Yes."
The next second, he was teleported directly in front of Renee Kane.
However, along with the message "You have been brought into the territory of the owner of Carriage A-1," came the sound of four gunshots.
Vincent Sherman screamed and collapsed onto the carriage's carpet, blood seeping from the holes in his four limbs.
He looked at Renee Kane in terror, shaking his head frantically. "No, you can't..."
Renee Kane crouched down with a sweet smile, pressing the muzzle of her gun against his forehead. "Of course, I can. Big Sis is helping you find release. Big Sis is so kind. Aren't you going to thank me?"
*
Just as she finished dealing with Vincent Sherman, the train's broadcast sounded again.
[The train will arrive at the next station in 1 minute. Next stop: Pyralis.]
[All players must survive at the station for seven days. During this time, you can obtain supply chests by salvaging lava or mining. The chests contain not only supplies and items but also extra Life Value, though they come with their own dangers.]
[Players can exchange for supplies and items in the train's store. It is recommended to purchase items specific to your needs. The train will return in seven days. Please pay attention to the map for the specific boarding location.]
[After players disembark, any items left at your seat will be locked and will move with your seat choice next time, so do not worry about losing them. We wish you a safe return. Alive.]
The chat hall instantly flooded with 999+ messages.
"Pyralis? You think I'm RedBoy or something? Guess we should buy some things to cool down, huh?"
"Forget that, is there a bathroom? I can't hold it anymore."
"Good thing our B Level carriage has private compartments and a public restroom~"
"My son is missing! His name is Vincent Sherman! Has anyone seen him?"
"The prices on this train are insane! I can't afford anything. Can someone gift me a landing net?"
...
A minute later, everyone was scattered and dropped into an endless range of strange mountains.
The landscape was barren as far as the eye could see, with only a few withered trees scattered about.
The sun was bright enough to be blinding. In the distance, mountain ranges rose and fell, some of them occasionally spewing scorching lava.
An acrid, scorching heat filled her nostrils, and staring too long made the scenery itself begin to warp.
Renee had landed in a relatively flat area, but the ground was still uneven. It was covered in dry cracks, and in some of the deeper ravines, she could even see lava.
The game panel displayed the time as 8:00 AM, yet the temperature had already surpassed 40 degrees Celsius.
But Renee knew this was only the beginning.
The real apocalypse would begin when the temperature climbed even higher.