Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Arriving”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian, Kiki, and Da Lou prepare to travel through the underground city to reach Ding Junyi’s research group. Their immediate goal is to reach the fortified research area, evaluate the situation, and potentially bring the scientists aboard the Infinite.
• Lin Xian plans for them to leave the underground city by the following night, return along the South Line and Jiangyu Line, and eventually reach Yubei City.
• The elevator ride highlights the underground city’s former normality through advertisements for dentistry, prosthetics, and protein made from cockroaches. This ordinary commercial life sharply contrasts with the city’s current silence and devastation.
• The group arrives at Level 52, the New Dumela Research Layer, where Area K2 is completely dark. They proceed through laboratory and office areas using Ding Junyi’s route instructions.
• As they enter the lit sections near Area F1, they encounter increasing numbers of zombies and trigger a massive Corpse Tide. Many enemies are research-uniformed zombie monsters with tentacle-filled mouths.
• Lin Xian, Kiki, and Da Lou fight their way through the corridor. Lin Xian uses Wind Guns and his blade, Da Lou guards the rear with firearms, and Kiki uses a powerful shockwave to clear a path through a lobby filled with zombies, Black Bugs, spiders, and other creatures.
• Inside the laboratory, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming anxiously monitor the group’s progress. Ding Junyi remains calm and focuses on preparing materials for evacuation rather than watching the surveillance feeds.
• Ding Junyi instructs the scientists to collect valuable research materials, underground-city records, supernatural resources, and especially Calamity Blood Plant No. 1 with its cultivation chamber. If they cannot take it, she orders them to prepare the Destruction Protocol.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates leadership and tactical discipline. He assigns clear roles, prioritizes reaching the destination over unnecessary combat, and adapts quickly when the group is surrounded.
• Kiki continues to serve as the team’s powerful area-control fighter, using her shockwave ability to rescue the group when the corridor is blocked.
• Da Lou is reliable as rear guard, protecting the others from pursuing zombies. His reaction to the cockroach-food advertisement also adds a brief glimpse of his practical curiosity and hunger.
• Ding Junyi is revealed as highly composed and mission-focused. Rather than panicking over the danger, she concentrates on preserving research and preparing contingencies, including destroying sensitive materials if evacuation becomes impossible.
• Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming appear frightened and helpless compared with the combat team, emphasizing the scientists’ dependence on Lin Xian’s group for survival.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between civilization and ruin: The elevator advertisements evoke a functioning, consumer-oriented society, making the dark and corpse-filled research floor seem even more tragic.
• Survival and resource preservation: The group must balance escaping alive with salvaging research, supernatural materials, and food-related resources that may be vital to humanity’s future.
• Duty versus fear: The scientists are terrified, but Ding Junyi insists on carrying out their responsibilities instead of surrendering to panic.
• The fragility of technological progress: The underground city was built as a massive, self-sufficient industrial civilization, yet its laboratories and infrastructure have been overtaken by monsters and death.
• Preparedness and teamwork: Success depends on assigned roles, advance route planning, and coordinated use of abilities rather than reckless fighting.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian gives Kiki and Da Lou their marching orders, establishing a clear chain of command and reinforcing their teamwork.
• Kiki and Lin Xian discuss the scale of the underground city, revealing their shared awareness of how enormous and complex the facility is.
• Their brief argument over cockroach-based food provides comic relief while also foreshadowing the worsening global food shortage.
• Zhao Yan questions Ding Junyi’s lack of attention to the surveillance screens, but Ding Junyi explains that their only useful tasks are preparing the laboratory entrance and sorting valuable materials.
• Ding Junyi’s instructions to Professor Zhao show the seriousness of the evacuation: even scientific specimens may need to be destroyed if they cannot be safely transported.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Yan realizes that the research data could help the scientists secure protection or employment if they escape, so she and Xu Wen begin copying it. Han Qiming joins them.
• Ding Junyi independently backs up not only the research data but also the Underground City’s holographic map, zone records, surveillance footage, and information about the transport-train system.
• Lin Xian’s group advances through the Underground City, reaching the area near the laboratory. Because the surrounding surveillance cameras are damaged, Ding Junyi loses sight of them.
• Ding Junyi waits at the laboratory’s final isolation door. Though no one knows whether rescuers or monsters are outside, she calmly decides to open it.
• Lin Xian, Kiki, and another armed survivor rush in while being pursued by zombies. Kiki uses her psychic ability to repel the monsters, and Ding Junyi immediately seals the door again.
• Lin Xian’s group checks the survivors for weapons. Ding Junyi identifies Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming as highly valuable researchers and explains that they could provide benefits to either the former Federal Government or the New Apocalypse Federation.
• Lin Xian remains skeptical, especially because the researchers had previously described themselves as abandoned assets. Da Lou searches them and confirms that they are unarmed.
• Kiki discovers a strange black flower in a sealed cultivation chamber. Xu Wen identifies it as a “Blood Calamity Disaster Plant,” while Ding Junyi reveals that it was found growing on a corpse during the first Polar Night.

2. Character Developments

• Ding Junyi demonstrates exceptional composure, foresight, and practicality. She preserves every useful resource, including maps and surveillance data, and calmly risks opening the isolation door at the critical moment.
• Zhao Yan becomes more survival-oriented, recognizing that scientific knowledge can serve as leverage in the post-disaster world despite her usual dislike of Ding Junyi.
• Xu Wen initially questions the value of saving the data but quickly understands its importance and becomes visibly fearful when confronted with the rescuers and zombies.
• Han Qiming follows Zhao Yan’s initiative and helps preserve the research materials, later attempting to defend himself with a stool.
• Lin Xian remains cautious and distrustful, evaluating the researchers primarily in terms of their usefulness and potential danger.
• Kiki provides the group’s immediate protection by using her Psychic Barrier against the pursuing zombies, while also displaying curiosity about the experimental plant.
• Da Lou acts as the group’s enforcer, checking the researchers for hidden weapons.

3. Significant Themes

• Survival through usefulness: The researchers view their knowledge and data as bargaining tools, revealing how the apocalypse has reduced human worth to practical value.
• Fear versus rationality: Everyone is terrified of what lies outside the isolation door, but Ding Junyi suppresses emotion and acts decisively.
• The collapse of institutions: The Federal Government and Apocalypse Federation are treated as potential sources of refuge, but the abandoned researchers must prove their value to regain protection.
• Science and catastrophe: The Blood Calamity Disaster Plant suggests that scientific experimentation and the disaster are closely connected, while its growth on a corpse adds a disturbing biological dimension.
• Trust and suspicion: Rescue does not immediately create safety; Lin Xian’s group still searches the survivors and questions their motives.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen cooperate in secretive but practical fashion to preserve their data, while Han Qiming joins them once he understands their plan.
• Ding Junyi takes control of the rescue moment, communicating through calm gestures and opening the door precisely when Lin Xian’s group arrives.
• Lin Xian confronts Ding Junyi with his weapon raised, and she responds by presenting herself and the other researchers as cooperative, valuable assets.
• Ding Junyi’s direct introductions of the researchers serve both to reassure Lin Xian and to discourage him from harming them.
• Da Lou’s physical inspection frightens Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming, reinforcing the imbalance of power between the rescuers and the scientists.
• Kiki’s discovery of the black flower draws the researchers into explaining the Underground City’s most ominous experiment, ending the chapter with the revelation of the Disaster Plant’s corpse-related origin.

Chapter Summary: “Contagion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ding Junyi and researcher Han Qiming explain the nature of the Blood Calamity Disaster Plant, a mutated organism believed to be connected to Apocalypse Day, Eerie Objects, and Nightwalker energy. Its Spirit Purge Value exceeds 100, suggesting it contains biological energy similar to that of a C-class Nightwalker.
• Experiments show that the plant can directly induce biological mutations, closely resembling the effects of the “night’s contagion.”
• Han reveals the scientific community’s unofficial theory: Zombies and other mutations are probably not caused by bacteria or viruses. Their transformations cannot be explained by normal biology, since Zombies gain abnormal strength and vitality despite lacking ordinary caloric metabolism.
• Researchers found no conventional transmission route or shared genetic trait among survivors. The only consistent factor is exposure to the night, which causes humans to mutate and produces Nightwalkers.
• Lin Xian connects this information with his previous experiences, including Kiki’s Corruption, Tang Hai’s monstrous transformation, mutated Taboo Items, Blood Calamity Disaster Plants, and the Dark Tide of the Star Abyss. He realizes they may all be manifestations of a broader phenomenon: “night contagion.”
• While Lin Xian and the others are underground, Chen Sixuan and Sha Sha wait cautiously aboard the train in darkness, fearing possible Zombie activity. They relax when Lin Xian contacts them and confirms the group is safe.
• Back in the research hall, Lin Xian demands that Ding Junyi surrender administrative access and reveal the location of the Gemini 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive.
• Kiki prepares a backdoor program to make the authorization process easier, while Da Lou intimidates Zhao Yan and the other researchers, leaving them with little choice but to cooperate.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian becomes increasingly analytical and alarmed as he recognizes that the night is not merely darkness but a force capable of altering all forms of life and matter. He also worries about Kiki’s potential fate if her abilities had developed toward Corruption instead.
• Kiki remains curious and energetic, reacting with fascination to the mutated plant, but her hacking skills also become strategically important. Her past experience with Corruption gives Lin Xian a more troubling perspective on her powers.
• Ding Junyi demonstrates both scientific authority and practical decisiveness. She openly shares the researchers’ unconfirmed theories while emphasizing the need for scientific responsibility.
• Han Qiming appears nervous and cautious but provides the crucial biological explanation behind the night-contagion theory.
• Chen Sixuan shows heightened vigilance after the Eerie Radio incident, while Sha Sha remains comparatively relaxed and brave during their tense wait.
• Da Lou serves as the group’s physical enforcer, using intimidation to ensure the researchers do not resist Lin Xian’s demands.

Significant Themes

• The limits of science: Existing biology cannot explain Zombies or Nightwalkers, forcing researchers to develop new theories while avoiding unsupported claims.
• Contagion beyond disease: The chapter reframes “infection” as an environmental or supernatural effect of the night rather than a virus or bacterium.
• Transformation and loss of humanity: Kiki’s possible Corruption and the creation of Zombies raise fears about people becoming monstrous entities.
• The night as an invasive force: Darkness is presented as an active phenomenon that mutates organisms, objects, and ecosystems.
• Knowledge and power: Scientific information, administrative permissions, and control of infrastructure are all treated as valuable resources in the post-apocalyptic world.
• Fear versus rationality: The characters attempt to understand terrifying events scientifically, even while acknowledging that conventional explanations are inadequate.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian questions Ding Junyi and Han Qiming, pushing them to explain the plant’s uses and the theory of night contagion.
• Kiki reacts enthusiastically to the mutated plant and later assists Lin Xian by preparing the laboratory’s authorization backdoor.
• Lin Xian silently reflects on Kiki’s vulnerability, connecting her condition to the broader danger of Corruption.
• Chen Sixuan and Sha Sha support each other while guarding the train, then communicate with Lin Xian when he contacts them.
• Lin Xian confronts Ding Junyi over administrative access and the locomotive’s location, while Da Lou reinforces his demands by threatening Zhao Yan and the other researchers.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ding Junyi fulfills her promise by authorizing Kiki to access Underground City’s internal management system using her password and fingerprint.
• The system confirms that the Gemini 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive is located at the Level Five Freight Terminal, Level 95, but the systems on that level have been offline for five days.
• Ding Junyi explains that underground creatures may have damaged Underground City’s main structure, especially the tracks below Level 89, making the locomotive’s condition uncertain.
• Lin Xian decides to investigate instead of leaving with authorization alone. He gives Ding Junyi and the other researchers ten minutes to pack before returning to the train.
• Ding Junyi reveals that the city’s Core Pile No. 1 has melted down, creating a risk of nuclear leakage. She gives Lin Xian a Geiger counter and provides portable hard drives containing research and Underground City data.
• Kiki discovers information about Calamity Plant No. 1, which Ding Junyi considers more valuable than Eerie Blood Essence because of its possible connection to supernatural abilities and Apocalypse Night.
• Lin Xian orders Da Lou to transport the plant’s cultivation chamber, but makes clear that it should be abandoned if doing so endangers the group.
• Han Qiming helps disconnect and dismantle the chamber, while Kiki regrets leaving behind the laboratory’s other advanced equipment.
• Lin Xian explains that he wants to use the train as more than transportation: he intends to transform it into a mobile Underground City, equipped with energy, weapons, medical, life-support, agricultural, and research systems.
• Ding Junyi reveals that two advanced Cole Type 3 Biological Science Research Vehicle Cabins are stored at the GF4 internal hoisting platform. These J5-class laboratories could be taken directly if Lin Xian can adapt them to the train’s carriage connections.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates practical leadership and long-term strategic thinking. He prioritizes survival but also plans to build a self-sufficient mobile base, showing that his ambitions extend beyond immediate scavenging.
• Ding Junyi proves efficient, calm, and knowledgeable. She assists Lin Xian despite her reservations and begins to recognize the scale of his plans.
• Kiki remains enthusiastic and curious, especially about valuable research materials and equipment. Her excitement highlights her growing role in identifying useful resources.
• Da Lou obediently follows Lin Xian’s orders and helps transport the plant chamber.
• Han Qiming becomes cooperative and useful by assisting with the technical dismantling of the cultivation chamber.
• Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and the others remain frightened of Lin Xian, initially believing his ten-minute deadline may mean he intends to kill them. Their fear eases once they understand he plans to take them back to the train.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus preservation of knowledge: The characters must decide whether scientific equipment and research are worth risking their lives to save.
• Rebuilding civilization: Lin Xian’s plan to create a mobile Underground City reflects humanity’s attempt to preserve technology, science, and self-sufficiency after the apocalypse.
• Pragmatism and leadership: Lin Xian repeatedly places human lives above valuable materials, while still recognizing the importance of preparing for the future.
• Trust and cooperation: Ding Junyi and the researchers are forced to cooperate with Lin Xian despite their fear and uncertainty about his motives.
• The dangers of the ruined world: Nuclear leakage, structural damage, underground creatures, and approaching darkness emphasize the constant environmental threats.

Character Interactions

• Ding Junyi directly authorizes Kiki and provides crucial information about the locomotive and the damaged city.
• Lin Xian questions Ding Junyi about the underground dangers and later explains his larger plans, leading her to realize he wants to turn the train into a mobile city.
• Lin Xian reassures the frightened researchers indirectly by clarifying that they have ten minutes to prepare for evacuation, not to face execution.
• Ding Junyi gives Lin Xian the Geiger counter and research backups, establishing herself as a valuable technical ally.
• Kiki and Da Lou work under Lin Xian’s direction to preserve the Calamity Plant, while Han Qiming assists them with the technical work.
• Ding Junyi’s revelation about the two biological research cabins gives the group a promising new target and ends the chapter on the prospect of an even greater technological haul.

Chapter Summary: “Human Wraith”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian discovers several advanced research carriages and decides to use them to grow vegetables, recycle water, and eventually establish systems for heat and oxygen. Although Infinite urgently needs better weapons and energy systems, he considers the research equipment too valuable to ignore.
• Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming finish gathering their computers and research materials. They nervously ask Lin Xian to take them to a Federal Government rescue point rather than abandon them outside the underground city.
• Lin Xian informs them that they will travel through Yubei City and stop at the High-Altitude Corridor at Ringstar Airport No. 1, warning them that the government facility may have fallen.
• The group prepares to leave the laboratory. Da Lou carries the incubation chamber, Kiki protects the group, and Ding Junyi leads them through the familiar route.
• When the protective door opens, a mass of zombies and Strange Bugs attempts to break in. Kiki uses her Shockwave to clear the entrance while Lin Xian shoots through the remaining attackers and creates a steel barrier to block reinforcements.
• As night falls, the lights in the Level 52 stairwell flicker, and Lin Xian senses a powerful presence approaching from the darkness.
• A terrifying, extremely fast female zombie attacks. Lin Xian strikes it through the face with Electric Surge, while Kiki freezes it and hurls it through a wall.
• Ding Junyi identifies the creature as a Human Wraith, a special type of zombie-like being that possesses esper abilities and differs from ordinary zombies and Nightwalker Entities.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates long-term strategic thinking by prioritizing food production, water recycling, and environmental systems for the train fortress, rather than focusing solely on weapons.
• He remains calm and decisive during the escape, taking command, protecting the group, and using his Mechanical Esper Ability creatively by constructing a steel door.
• His enhanced detection ability allows him to sense the Human Wraith before it attacks, preventing a potentially fatal ambush.
• Kiki continues to show courage and combat effectiveness. She immediately uses her Shockwave against the zombie horde and later combines her freezing ability with Lin Xian’s attack to defeat the Human Wraith.
• Ding Junyi proves valuable because of her knowledge of unusual zombie variants. Her scientific background allows her to identify and explain the Human Wraiths.
• Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming remain frightened and dependent on Lin Xian’s protection, revealing their vulnerability outside the laboratory.
• Da Lou acts as a reliable guard, carrying the incubation chamber while remaining prepared to defend the group.

Significant Themes

• Survival through preparation: Lin Xian recognizes that long-term survival requires food, water, oxygen, and heat systems, not merely weapons.
• The dangers of the unknown: The underground city contains threats unlike the zombies outside, emphasizing that familiar survival rules may not apply.
• Human adaptation and corruption: Human Wraiths suggest that humans can transform into powerful, esper-like monsters, blurring the boundary between human, zombie, and supernatural entity.
• Leadership and dependence: The frightened researchers rely entirely on Lin Xian and his companions, reinforcing Lin Xian’s role as protector and leader.
• Scientific knowledge as a survival tool: Ding Junyi’s research helps the group understand and categorize emerging threats.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhao Yan anxiously questions Lin Xian about whether he will truly bring them to safety, while Lin Xian gives them a blunt warning about the uncertain condition of the Federal Government’s facilities.
• Lin Xian assigns roles to Kiki, Ding Junyi, and Da Lou, showing his organized leadership during the evacuation.
• Kiki and Lin Xian cooperate seamlessly in combat, combining lightning, freezing, and physical force to defeat the Human Wraith.
• Ding Junyi explains the nature of Human Wraiths to Kiki and Lin Xian, though Lin Xian dismisses Kiki’s follow-up question as unhelpful while continuing to lead the group.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ding Junyi explains the theory of Dark Infection: Zombies are corrupted humans, while some Espers may be evolved humans. Both corruption and evolution can cause unpredictable biological mutations, possibly linked to the mysterious Dark Tide.
• As Lin Xian’s group retreats through the underground city, they question why Human Wraiths are appearing so frequently. Ding Junyi reveals that the underground construction team encountered unknown lifeforms, after which strange incidents began. The Human Wraiths were powerful enough to force the Federation to abandon the city.
• The exhausted survivors struggle to keep up after a week of starvation. Han Qiming collapses while carrying his briefcase, and Xu Wen turns back to help him.
• A supposedly defeated female corpse suddenly reappears with Black Bugs, killing Han Qiming and tearing his body apart. Da Lou, Lin Xian, and Kiki fight back:
  • Da Lou uses his machine gun against the Black Bugs.
  • Kiki restrains the female corpse with telekinesis.
  • Da Lou cuts the corpse in half, while Lin Xian destroys both halves’ heads with Wind Guns, finally stopping it.
  • Kiki’s Shockwave drives back the attacking bugs.
• The group flees through the corridors while Zombies—many still wearing research uniforms—pursue them.
• They reach the No. 3 Elevator and escape to Level 65’s Rail Loading Zone. Lin Xian contacts Chen Sixuan, who confirms that the vehicle and the remaining group are safe.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains calm and decisive under pressure, leading the retreat and protecting the weaker survivors. He becomes increasingly aware that the underground city is more dangerous than expected and considers whether Tang Hai may be an advanced Human Wraith.
• Kiki demonstrates the growth and usefulness of her evolved abilities, restraining the revived corpse and repelling the Black Bugs. However, the attack briefly frightens even her, emphasizing the threat’s seriousness.
• Ding Junyi provides crucial scientific and historical information about the underground city, while her physical exhaustion reveals her vulnerability outside the laboratory.
• Da Lou acts protectively, warning Xu Wen and using his machine gun and greatsword to defend the group.
• Han Qiming is killed after falling behind, marking the cost of the group’s exhaustion and the underground city’s dangers.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen are traumatized by Han’s death and become more dependent on Lin Xian and Kiki for survival.
• Chen Sixuan remains safely with the vehicle and serves as the group’s point of contact during the escape.

Significant Themes

• Mutation and the unknown: The chapter expands the mystery of the Dark Tide, suggesting that both Zombies and Espers may undergo unpredictable biological changes.
• Escalating danger: Human Wraiths and Black Bugs are shown to be far more dangerous than ordinary Zombies, making the underground city a uniquely deadly environment.
• Survival under pressure: Hunger, fatigue, fear, and limited resources weaken the survivors, while quick decisions and teamwork are essential.
• Limits of power: Even evolved Espers are not invincible; the female corpse’s revival nearly overwhelms the group.
• Human cost of catastrophe: Han Qiming’s brutal death and the survivors’ grief emphasize the personal consequences of the outbreak.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian and Ding Junyi discuss the origins and danger of the Human Wraiths, with Lin Xian pressing her for answers.
• Xu Wen attempts to help the exhausted Han Qiming, but Da Lou stops her and warns her of the approaching attack.
• Da Lou, Kiki, and Lin Xian coordinate effectively to kill the revived female corpse and repel the Black Bugs.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen react with terror to Han’s death and cling to Lin Xian and Kiki during the escape.
• Lin Xian reassures and evaluates the survivors after reaching the elevator, while Kiki and Ding Junyi discuss the strength of the Black Bugs.
• Lin Xian reconnects with Chen Sixuan by radio, confirming that the vehicle and the remaining team are safe.

Chapter Summary: “Downward”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian and his group successfully return to the Infinite after escaping the dangerous lower levels of Underground City No. 9. Six people make it back, but Professor Han has died.
• The rescued researchers, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, collapse from exhaustion and fear. Once aboard the train and offered food, they break down emotionally, relieved to have survived.
• The third survivor, Ding Junyi, introduces herself as the deputy director of the Biological Research Department. Unlike Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, she remains composed and observant.
• The group brings back a strange specimen: Calamity Plant No. 1, commonly called the Hell Black Chrysanthemum. Lin Xian orders it stored safely until the Federal Phoenix Society can provide more information.
• After resting and eating, Lin Xian, Kiki, and Ding Junyi investigate the Underground City through the train’s Information Center. They discover two additional carriages at Platform GF4, apparently former Federation assets.
• Lin Xian plans to reorganize the train at the upper platform and eventually travel to Yubei City, but first decides they must secure the Gemini 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive.
• Rather than risk taking the Infinite down unknown or damaged tracks, Lin Xian and Kiki plan to ride the elevator to Level 89, enter through an emergency passage, and inspect the railway down to Level 95 on foot.
• Da Lou and Sha Sha are ordered to remain aboard the Infinite and guard the train and the rescued strangers. Lin Xian and Kiki depart wearing gas masks and carrying a Geiger counter.
• Ding Junyi offers to guide them and explains that normal walkie-talkies will not function underground; instead, they can communicate through the city’s remaining subsystem.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian continues to act cautiously and strategically. He prioritizes securing the survivors, protecting the train, and gathering information before making dangerous moves. His decision not to drive the Infinite downward demonstrates his awareness of the risks posed by damaged tracks, slopes, noise, and unknown enemies.
• Kiki displays confidence and technical usefulness, helping analyze the Underground City’s systems and suggesting that the group possesses a “secret weapon.” She works closely with Lin Xian in planning the locomotive recovery.
• Ding Junyi is established as intelligent, calm, and potentially valuable. Her knowledge of the Underground City and its communication systems makes her useful, though Lin Xian remains cautious about her motives.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen show the psychological impact of prolonged terror and starvation. Their immediate concern with food reflects their desperate physical condition, while their crying reveals their emotional collapse after being rescued.
• Da Lou accepts Lin Xian’s order to stay behind and protect the train, showing loyalty and responsibility despite wanting to join the expedition.
• Sha Sha remains curious and innocent, reacting with fascination to the Hell Black Chrysanthemum rather than fear.

Significant Themes

• Survival and temporary safety: Returning to the Infinite provides the survivors with shelter, food, and emotional relief, but the safety is only temporary.
• Caution versus urgency: Lin Xian must act quickly to obtain the nuclear locomotive while avoiding reckless risks in an unstable underground environment.
• Trust and suspicion: Ding Junyi is helpful, but Lin Xian does not completely trust the newcomers and deliberately leaves Da Lou behind to watch them.
• Humanity and scientific danger: The Hell Black Chrysanthemum may be connected to Espers and could possess great value, emphasizing the tension between scientific discovery and the danger of unknown biological phenomena.
• Isolation and collapse: The blizzard, frozen corpses, wandering Zombies, lost communications, and abandoned underground systems portray a world where civilization has largely failed.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Sixuan and Sha Sha warmly welcome Lin Xian’s return and show concern for the rescued survivors.
• Lin Xian directs Chen Sixuan to feed Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, reinforcing his practical leadership.
• Ding Junyi explains the identity of the Hell Black Chrysanthemum and later offers her expertise in navigating the Underground City.
• Lin Xian and Kiki collaborate on the plan to reach Level 95 and recover the Gemini 11R locomotive.
• Lin Xian assigns Da Lou and Sha Sha to defend the Infinite, while Da Lou promises to protect the train.
• Ding Junyi joins Lin Xian and Kiki as a guide, creating a cautious but necessary partnership as they descend once again into the dangerous city.

Level 89 Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian and Kiki descend by elevator to Level 89 of the Underground City, the permanent Civilization Storage level.
• Ding Junyi explains the city’s layout: upper levels house privileged citizens, while the more numerous third-class citizens occupy only Levels 70–80, highlighting the city’s severe social inequality.
• Level 89 stores fossils, plant seeds, genetic cryogenic vaults, and cultural artifacts. Because few people worked there during the infection outbreak, it may be relatively empty, but its vast size and darkness make it dangerous.
• Lin Xian hopes to obtain a Gemini 11R nuclear-powered locomotive and its research carriages, which could greatly improve the Infinite’s farming, air, and water systems.
• After arriving, Lin Xian and Kiki move cautiously through enormous, unlit storage areas filled with insect specimens and fossils. They avoid using firearms in case the noise attracts a Corpse Tide.
• They discuss the dangers of the High-Altitude Corridor, including hostile aerial creatures and the possibility that the sky may be more dangerous than the ground.
• In the plant-seed storage area, Lin Xian decides to collect seeds for cultivation aboard the train, since many natural crops have been destroyed by the black rain.
• As they gather supplies, they hear an eerie dragging sound nearby, suggesting that something may be moving through the storage level.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains practical and restrained. He recognizes that merely obtaining useful technology or supplies would be a major success and does not underestimate the dangers of exploring the city.
• He demonstrates tactical awareness by switching from his rifle to an electric saber, knowing gunfire could attract a deadly Corpse Tide.
• Lin Xian continues to prioritize the train’s long-term survival, focusing on farming, infrastructure, and securing seeds rather than greedily looting the city.
• Kiki shows fear and discomfort in the Underground City, contrasting it with her preferred life aboard the Infinite. Her nervous chatter reveals both her anxiety and her reliance on Lin Xian for reassurance.
• Kiki also remains imaginative and future-oriented, suggesting intelligent driving, sea travel, submarine conversion, and agricultural cultivation.
• Their conversation reinforces their growing partnership and mutual trust, even as Kiki’s fear makes her dependent on Lin Xian’s calm leadership.

3. Significant Themes

• Social inequality: The allocation of forty levels to a small privileged population and only ten levels to the much larger third-class population exposes the Underground City’s deeply unjust class structure.
• Survival versus greed: Lin Xian understands that survival depends on careful choices, not attempting to seize everything available.
• Preservation of civilization: Level 89 represents humanity’s attempt to preserve biodiversity, genetics, fossils, and culture against extinction.
• The fragility of nature: The destruction of crops by the black rain makes the stored seeds extremely valuable and emphasizes humanity’s dependence on preserved biological resources.
• Fear of the unknown: The vast darkness, silent corridors, unseen creatures, and unexplained noise create a growing atmosphere of suspense.
• The dangers of every environment: Lin Xian realizes that the ground, underground, and sky all contain different forms of lethal threats; no route is truly safe.

4. Character Interactions

• Ding Junyi communicates remotely with Lin Xian through the Underground City’s information system, providing essential guidance about Level 89.
• Kiki criticizes the city’s class system, and Lin Xian jokes that she would have belonged above Level 60, showing their familiar, teasing relationship.
• Kiki tries to keep Lin Xian talking because she is frightened, prompting discussion about rescuing people, expanding the train, and its possible future forms.
• Lin Xian explains that he will not take the scientists they encountered earlier, since they have chosen to support the new Federal Government and the Infinite is not a charity operation.
• While exploring together, Kiki notices the stored seeds and encourages their collection; Lin Xian agrees, emphasizing their shared concern for the train’s future.
• Their cooperation is interrupted when both hear the mysterious dragging noise, shifting the interaction from casual conversation to immediate mutual alertness.

Human Skeleton — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the dark, museum-like upper floor, Lin Xian and Kiki hear an unfamiliar dragging sound. They realize another presence is stalking them and hurry toward the gene cryogenic storage area.
• The sound follows them through the display racks and corridor, appearing impossibly close despite their speed. As the darkness thickens and their flashlight becomes less effective, Kiki uses her Shockwave ability when the entity seems to approach from behind.
• They reach the cryogenic chambers, which remain powered by emergency systems. Leaking coolant fills the area with dense, freezing vapor, severely limiting visibility. Lin Xian monitors radiation levels while both characters rely on gas masks.
• A disturbing voice resembling a little girl repeatedly says, “Hello.” Its unnatural tone reveals that it is not human. Lin Xian narrowly avoids an attack and confirms that a large Aberrant Entity is pursuing them through the fog.
• The creature follows them into a corridor. Lin Xian uses the Mechanical Heart to create a steel barrier, but the entity crashes through it. The monster is revealed as a massive red Human Skeleton, over three meters tall, covered in bone spines, with a glowing skull.
• The skeleton roars and breathes a devastating mixture of white flame and Blood Waves. Lin Xian’s Ice Shield is destroyed almost instantly, and the surrounding steel becomes dangerously hot. Kiki uses telekinetic force to help block the attack.
• Working together, they bring down a large chandelier. Kiki tears it from the ceiling and drops it onto the skeleton, pinning it beneath the wreckage and Lin Xian’s damaged steel frames. They escape into a narrow maintenance passage.

Character Development

• Lin Xian remains alert and decisive, taking the lead in navigating the darkness and protecting Kiki. His enhanced physical abilities allow him to run quickly and react to danger, while his Mechanical Heart and Ice Shield demonstrate his growing combat versatility.
• Kiki is frightened but courageous and useful under pressure. Although she lacks Lin Xian’s physical enhancements and struggles to keep up, she repeatedly uses her Shockwave and telekinetic abilities to defend them. Her quick thinking with the chandelier is crucial to their escape.
• Their cooperation becomes more natural: Lin Xian shields and guides Kiki, while Kiki supports him with ranged force and environmental manipulation.

Significant Themes

• Unknown and unnatural threats: The creature’s ability to imitate human speech makes it more disturbing, emphasizing the danger of Aberrant Entities that defy expectations.
• Survival through teamwork: Neither character could easily overcome the monster alone; their combined abilities allow them to survive its overwhelming attacks.
• Darkness and limited perception: Fog, failing visibility, and the museum-like setting create constant uncertainty, forcing the characters to rely on instinct and sound.
• Escalation of danger: The threat evolves from an unseen stalker to a gigantic, fire-breathing Human Skeleton, raising the stakes of their mission.

Character Interactions

• Kiki urges Lin Xian toward the gene cryogenic storage area while he takes the lead with his blade.
• Lin Xian grabs and pulls Kiki along when she falls behind, and she instinctively releases him to attack the unseen pursuer.
• Lin Xian repeatedly positions himself between Kiki and the monster, using defensive abilities to protect her.
• Kiki assists with telekinesis during the skeleton’s fire attack and ultimately drops the chandelier, enabling both of them to escape.

Chapter Summary

• Escape from the Red Humanoid Skeleton: Kiki tears an emergency door from its frame with her ability as she and Lin Xian flee the powerful Red Humanoid Skeleton. The creature pursues them through the corridor, clanking against the walls and eventually blasting through Lin Xian’s created steel barrier with a devastating stream of fire.
• Danger in the stairwell: Lin Xian and Kiki fall down a steep staircase while escaping. Kiki uses her eye ability to slow their descent and prevent serious injury. The monster cannot fully enter the narrow stairwell, but its burned, blood-red claw reaches inside and searches for them.
• The monster’s disturbing intelligence: The creature reveals that it can speak, repeatedly saying, “You! Hello!” Its skull-like face, human-looking eyes, flesh-covered body, fire-breathing ability, and speech make it far more disturbing than the previously encountered White Giant Monster. Lin Xian becomes increasingly uneasy at the thought that the creature is becoming more human.
• Descent into the underground tracks: Lin Xian and Kiki continue downward rather than risk returning past the monster. They reach a lower emergency exit leading to a subway-like tunnel. Lin Xian uses the Mechanical Heart to unlock the door, while cautioning Kiki to conserve her ability.
• Mission parameters: Ding Junyi contacts them and confirms that they are on the tracks. Their route from Level 89 toward Level 95 covers 2,620 meters, with a further 62-meter descent to Pile 1 on Level 100. Radiation is measured at 66 μSv/h, below the 100 μSv/h danger threshold, so they continue.
• Earthquake: The tunnel begins shaking violently. Falling debris and water threaten them, and Lin Xian protects Kiki by shielding her and creating support pillars. The tremor soon subsides, but the damaged tunnel highlights the Underground City’s worsening structural instability.
• Revelation about recurring tremors: Teacher Chen checks on them through the mobile terminal. Ding Junyi explains that earthquakes of similar strength have occurred several times every night for the past two weeks. This leaves Lin Xian deeply alarmed, suggesting the tremors may be connected to the underground creatures or a larger threat.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lin Xian remains cautious and protective, physically pulling Kiki away from danger and shielding her during the earthquake. He also demonstrates practical leadership by managing their route, radiation risk, and ability conservation.
• Kiki is capable and quick-thinking, using her eye ability to slow their fall and protect both of them, but she is visibly frightened and psychologically disturbed by the increasingly human-like monster.
• Lin Xian and Kiki rely heavily on one another while fleeing, sharing humor and fear but ultimately prioritizing survival. Their cooperation becomes especially clear during the stairwell escape and earthquake.
• Ding Junyi provides mission guidance and technical information remotely, including distances, radiation limits, and the frequency of the earthquakes.
• Teacher Chen shows concern for Lin Xian and Kiki, reinforcing the support network monitoring their dangerous expedition.

Significant Themes

• Escalating horror: The monsters are becoming more intelligent, human-like, and powerful, making them more psychologically terrifying than ordinary beasts.
• Humanity and monstrosity: The Red Humanoid Skeleton’s speech and human features blur the boundary between human and monster, raising questions about what it may be becoming.
• Survival through cooperation: Lin Xian and Kiki survive by combining their abilities, trusting one another, and conserving limited strength.
• Environmental collapse: Cracked structures, leaking tunnels, radiation, and recurring earthquakes show that the Underground City is deteriorating and may be threatened by forces beyond the characters’ immediate understanding.

Chapter Summary: “Hill”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian and Kiki continue descending through the maintenance passage beneath Underground City No. 9, despite realizing that an earthquake-causing monster may be hidden below.
• They discover reddish-brown masses of living tissue growing across the tunnel walls. The tissue resembles tumors or flesh and becomes denser as they descend, making the passage feel like the inside of a gigantic organism.
• The tunnel suddenly ends at a collapsed section, revealing that they are far below the city—beneath approximately the ninetieth level of the excavation shaft.
• From the broken passage, they can see the surface entrance far above, confirming that the spiral tunnel follows the inner wall of the enormous shaft.
• The fleshy growths extend downward over a massive mound of excavated earth. Lin Xian initially cannot see anything in the darkness, but Kiki notices something near the center.
• Kiki turns off Lin Xian’s flashlight, allowing the moonlight to reveal the true shape of the mound: it resembles a gigantic fish-like creature covered in countless arms or fleshy extensions.
• The creature appears to be at least a thousand meters wide and alive. Lin Xian and Kiki conclude that it is probably the underground monster responsible for the recent earthquake.
• The discovery reinforces the scale of the apocalypse: the creature may have caused the destruction of Underground City No. 9 and the deaths of approximately 370,000 people.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains practical and determined despite his growing fear. He acknowledges the danger but insists that, since they have already come this far, they should obtain something useful from the expedition.
• His curiosity and investigative instincts lead him to examine the strange flesh rather than immediately retreating.
• Lin Xian’s confidence is severely shaken when he realizes the “hill” is actually a living creature vastly larger than anything humans could confront.
• Kiki uses sarcasm and dark humor to cope with fear, joking about being buried with Lin Xian rather than dying alone or being killed by monsters.
• Despite her fear, Kiki proves observant and alert: she notices the creature’s outline before Lin Xian does and stops him from overlooking the danger.
• Her willingness to remain beside Lin Xian suggests growing trust and emotional attachment, even though she continues to tease him.

3. Significant Themes

• Human helplessness before nature and the unknown: The enormous creature demonstrates that humanity’s strongest constructions are fragile compared with the beings emerging from the darkness.
• The failure of underground safety: Humans believed that hiding below ground offered protection after the apocalypse, but the monster beneath the city turns that assumption into a horrifying illusion.
• Curiosity versus survival: Lin Xian’s desire to investigate and gain something from the ruins drives him deeper into danger.
• Fear and companionship: Lin Xian and Kiki manage terror through banter and mutual support, using their relationship to remain calm in an overwhelming situation.
• The hidden scale of the apocalypse: The creature’s size and apparent role in the earthquake suggest that the disasters affecting humanity are far greater than ordinary survivors understand.

4. Character Interactions

• Lin Xian and Kiki exchange darkly humorous remarks while descending, with Kiki joking about dying beside him and Lin Xian teasing her about the previously encountered “red handsome guy.”
• Kiki repeatedly stays close to Lin Xian, tugging at his clothing and warning him when danger appears.
• Lin Xian investigates the flesh while Kiki expresses suspicion that something is fundamentally wrong with the location.
• At the cliff edge, Kiki guides Lin Xian’s attention toward the hill and deliberately switches off his flashlight so they can see the creature’s outline under the moonlight.
• Their shared realization that the hill is alive unites them in fear and confirms their dependence on each other in the dangerous underground environment.

Chapter Summary: “Locomotive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian and Kiki reach a collapsed section of tunnel only a few meters from the Underground City’s Level 95 freight terminal. Although retreating would be safer, Lin Xian decides to continue because they have already traveled so far and desperately need the nuclear-powered locomotive.
• Using their abilities, Lin Xian creates rails and steel supports while Kiki helps position and secure them. Together, they construct a temporary suspended track across the collapse.
• They carefully cross the track above a seemingly bottomless abyss and beneath the enormous creature occupying the Underground City’s pit. After reaching the opposite tunnel, they continue repairing smaller breaks along the route.
• The pair eventually arrives at a large freight platform. The Geiger counter registers dangerous radiation levels of 46 μSv/h, forcing them to move quickly.
• The freight platform is also partially destroyed, with a collapsed elevator shaft, exposed structural supports, and dangling cables. The creature’s fleshy growths cover the surrounding walls and appear to be moving, seemingly absorbing nutrients.
• Radiation levels spike dramatically—above 300 μSv/h—near the fleshy growths and rise further toward the creature outside the wall. This suggests that the source of the radiation may be connected to the creature or the area beyond the Underground City, rather than solely to the sealed reactor on Level 100.
• Kiki spots the Gemini 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive on a backup platform. Lin Xian scans it with the Mechanical Heart and confirms that its main structure, electrical systems, auxiliary power unit, and micro-nuclear reactor are intact.
• Lin Xian activates the locomotive’s auxiliary systems and begins a self-check. The train’s headlights come on, revealing the powerful machine in full.
• The locomotive’s reactor could provide enormous energy for propulsion, heating, water circulation, and other systems, potentially solving the train’s energy crisis. However, Lin Xian recognizes that the locomotive is less durable than their heavy-duty Juying 03E and will need careful protection.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates determination and risk tolerance by refusing to abandon the mission despite the tunnel collapse, radiation, and nearby monster. His priorities shift from merely finding supplies to securing the locomotive as the key to the train’s future survival.
• He also shows strategic awareness: he understands that the locomotive cannot simply be controlled entirely through his Mechanical Heart and that its internal systems will require Kiki’s assistance.
• Kiki remains frightened but proves dependable. She follows Lin Xian across the dangerous suspended track and actively helps repair the rails, showing trust and courage despite the threatening environment.
• Lin Xian’s excitement upon discovering the locomotive briefly cuts through the tension, revealing how important the machine is to him and how much freedom it could give him.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance versus retreat: Lin Xian must choose between safety and continuing a dangerous mission that may determine the group’s future.
• Human ingenuity against environmental danger: The temporary railway demonstrates how technology and cooperation allow the characters to overcome seemingly impassable obstacles.
• Hidden contamination and unknown threats: The growing radiation levels and living flesh suggest that the Underground City conceals dangers beyond the known reactor and may be biologically or mechanically connected to the massive creature.
• Technology as hope and vulnerability: The locomotive offers energy independence and renewed mobility, but its fragility makes it a valuable target that must be protected.
• Trust and cooperation: Lin Xian and Kiki work together closely, with Lin Xian handling construction and mechanical control while Kiki supports the repairs and will eventually operate the locomotive’s systems.

Character Interactions

• Kiki repeatedly asks Lin Xian what they should do, exposing her fear, while Lin Xian reassures her and takes responsibility for deciding whether to proceed.
• Their teamwork is central as they build and cross the temporary track together.
• Kiki alerts Lin Xian to the apparent movement of the fleshy wall growths and later discovers the locomotive, contributing crucial observations.
• Lin Xian explains the locomotive’s condition and limitations to Kiki, making clear that her technical abilities will be needed to operate its systems.

Chapter Summary: “Under Attack”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Sixuan, Sha Sha, Da Lou, Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen wait aboard the Infinite at the Level 4 Freight Rail Terminal in Underground City No. 9, hoping to hear from Lin Xian and Kiki.
• They discover that the underground city is essentially a post-apocalyptic graveyard. Its three main energy cores have been destroyed, most of its estimated 370,000 inhabitants are dead or mutated, and only Backup Core No. 3 remains operational.
• Ding Junyi explains that the surviving population was supposedly relocated to another underground city, though she does not know whether the evacuation succeeded. No other unmutated survivors have been detected.
• The train’s radar detects an approaching presence. Before the group can determine whether it is Lin Xian’s team, a Human Wraith crashes into the train.
• More Human Wraiths, Zombies, and black Strange Bugs surround the Infinite, attacking its sides, roof, windows, and doors. A Female Human Aberrant repeatedly claws at the Cockpit entrance.
• Sha Sha threatens Zhao Yan and Xu Wen after their screams attract attention, forcing them to remain silent. Despite the overwhelming attack, the train’s armor withstands the monsters’ assaults.
• The transceiver finally reconnects with Lin Xian, who reports that he and the others have found the locomotive. Chen Sixuan informs him that the Infinite is surrounded but assures him that they should be safe for now.

Character Developments

• Chen Sixuan remains responsible and composed despite the terrifying situation. She quickly recognizes the danger, orders silence, and reassures Lin Xian while concealing her own anxiety.
• Sha Sha displays a harsh, commanding side, threatening Zhao Yan and Xu Wen to prevent them from making noise. Her protectiveness and awareness of the danger contrast with her young appearance.
• Da Lou stays alert and ready to defend the group, keeping his weapon trained while monitoring the platform.
• Ding Junyi provides crucial information about the city’s destruction and evaluates the Infinite’s defensive strength with growing surprise.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen shift from grief and curiosity to panic when the monsters attack, but Sha Sha’s intimidation forces them to control themselves.
• Lin Xian successfully locates the locomotive, though his report suggests that his own group has encountered complications.

Significant Themes

• The collapse of civilization: Underground City No. 9, once a refuge for humanity, has become a mass grave, emphasizing the failure of even humanity’s strongest survival plans.
• Isolation and despair: The characters are surrounded by darkness, death, and the lingering grief of hundreds of thousands of victims.
• Survival through discipline: Silence, vigilance, and emotional control are essential as even a scream can draw more monsters toward the survivors.
• Fragile security: The Infinite’s armor provides temporary protection, but the growing number of attackers reminds the characters that safety is limited and uncertain.
• Hope amid catastrophe: Lin Xian’s successful discovery of the locomotive offers a small but important sign of progress amid the disaster.

Character Interactions

• Chen Sixuan questions Ding Junyi about the fate of the underground city’s inhabitants and relies on her knowledge of the facility.
• Sha Sha largely ignores Zhao Yan and Xu Wen at first, but later forcefully reprimands them for screaming during the attack.
• Da Lou’s threatening presence reinforces Sha Sha’s warning and keeps the frightened survivors quiet.
• Chen Sixuan and Ding Junyi coordinate their response to the approaching creatures, choosing to remain inside the armored train rather than expose themselves.
• Chen Sixuan and Lin Xian reconnect by radio, exchanging updates and reassuring one another while both groups face danger.

Chapter Summary: “Underground”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian learns through the intercom that Infinite is under attack and informs Chen Sixuan, Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and the others about the enormous underground creature he and Kiki encountered.
• The group realizes that the creature may be connected to the earthquake, spreading darkness, and the abnormal mutation of Human Wraiths. Its power appears to exceed that of ordinary Human Wraiths or Aberrant Entities.
• Lin Xian orders Chen Sixuan to prepare Infinite for immediate departure. If communication fails, she is instructed to drive the train upward while Lin Xian and Kiki follow.
• At Freight Terminal Platform 5, Lin Xian uses his Mechanical Esper Ability to inspect and prepare the Gemini 11R nuclear-powered locomotive. Although its reactor is still cooling, he forces the train’s systems to start.
• Kiki begins withdrawing the reactor’s control rods. She notices that the mutated creatures and the underground monster possess intense radiation, leading her to speculate that the creature may have eaten Underground City No. 9’s Main Core No. 1.
• The creature reacts as if it has noticed them. A violent explosion then strikes the platform, and the train is attacked by a massive, indistinct shadow.
• Lin Xian accelerates the Gemini 11R and orders Kiki to tell Chen Sixuan to depart immediately, abandoning any attempt to coordinate at the platform.
• Chen Sixuan starts Infinite in reverse, while Ding Junyi uses the Underground City control system to open the station gate and switch the track turnout, allowing the trains and their attached research cabins to escape more efficiently.
• Zombies and Human Wraiths swarm Infinite. Da Lou and Sha Sha defend the rear carriage, using a light machine gun and automatic rifle to destroy the attackers while avoiding explosives that might collapse the tunnel.
• Both trains begin moving rapidly upward as the enormous creature pursues them.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates decisiveness and technical mastery. Despite the danger and the reactor’s incomplete startup, he uses his Mechanical Esper Ability to force the locomotive into motion and prioritize escape.
• Kiki shows quick thinking by connecting the radiation in the monsters to the underground core, suggesting that the creature may have consumed it. She remains active in operating the reactor and communicating with the others.
• Chen Sixuan shifts from panic to action, taking command of Infinite and driving it out under intense attack.
• Ding Junyi remains calm and practical. She uses her technical knowledge of Underground City’s systems to open gates and redirect the tracks, improving the group’s chances of escape.
• Da Lou and Sha Sha display strong sibling coordination and courage as they defend the train from the pursuing creatures.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen react with fear and helplessness, highlighting the overwhelming danger faced by the passengers.

Significant Themes

• Survival under overwhelming threat: The characters must flee rather than confront an enemy whose true nature and strength remain unknown.
• Technology versus catastrophe: Nuclear locomotives, computer systems, weapons, and supernatural abilities are all used together to resist the underground disaster.
• The unknown origins of the disaster: The creature may be tied to the city’s main core and could be responsible for the radiation, mutations, darkness, and earthquakes.
• Teamwork and trust: The escape depends on rapid coordination among Lin Xian, Chen Sixuan, Ding Junyi, Kiki, Da Lou, and Sha Sha.
• Escalating danger: The creature’s apparent awareness of the trains and its ability to destroy the platform suggest that the crisis is far more serious than the group initially understood.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian and Kiki work together in the cockpit, with Kiki operating the reactor and Lin Xian controlling the locomotive.
• Kiki’s theory about the creature consuming the core changes Lin Xian’s understanding of the threat and prompts him to flee immediately.
• Lin Xian gives Chen Sixuan urgent instructions over the intercom, while Chen responds by launching Infinite.
• Ding Junyi coordinates with both Lin Xian and Chen to manipulate the station’s gates and track system.
• Chen orders Da Lou and Sha Sha to protect the rear of Infinite, and the siblings cooperate effectively while fighting off Zombies and Human Wraiths.
• The chapter ends with the two trains accelerating into the tunnel, carrying the survivors away from the collapsing and monster-infested platform.

Chapter Summary: “Rising”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian drives the powerful Gemini 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive through the damaged tunnel, racing to rejoin the main train, Infinite.
• He and Kiki cross a temporarily repaired section of track over a collapsed tunnel wall. As they pass, they glimpse a gigantic subterranean creature with numerous reddish-brown eyes.
• The creature—later revealed as an enormous Abyssal Behemoth—begins emerging from the Bottom of the Pit beneath Underground City No. 9. Its appearance causes avalanches and massive structural destruction.
• The Behemoth smashes through part of the Underground City, sending shockwaves through the tunnel and violently shaking Infinite. Chen Sixuan reports that the train has only fifteen percent reserve energy remaining.
• Lin Xian warns the others that the creature has noticed them and may be pursuing them upward.
• Before Lin Xian can reach Infinite, the Human Skeleton from Level 89 attacks the locomotive, crawling through the tunnel and breathing fire at the train.
• Kiki uses her telekinetic ability to pin the Human Skeleton against the tunnel wall, allowing Lin Xian to drive past it.
• As the Behemoth approaches, Lin Xian orders Kiki to throw the Human Skeleton behind them. The Behemoth destroys the creature, tearing apart the tunnel and killing it.
• Kiki retrieves the Human Skeleton’s severed head, crushes it, and extracts a medium-sized red Blood Essence. Despite the danger, she cheerfully keeps the essence as a “bonus.”

Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains intensely focused and courageous, pushing the locomotive to its limits while managing the damaged track and the approaching monster. His fear is evident, but he continues acting decisively to protect the train.
• Kiki demonstrates both powerful telekinetic control and reckless boldness. She stabilizes the train, restrains the Human Skeleton, and cleverly—or opportunistically—harvests its Blood Essence.
• Chen Sixuan acts as a composed coordinator aboard Infinite, monitoring the train’s energy and maintaining communication with Lin Xian.
• Ding Junyi remains unnervingly calm during the crisis, discussing the creature’s movements without showing fear.
• The passengers, including Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Sha Sha, react with panic as the earthquake shakes the train.

Significant Themes

• Survival against overwhelming forces: The characters and their trains are portrayed as fragile compared with the Behemoth, turning escape into a desperate struggle.
• Courage under pressure: Lin Xian and Kiki continue functioning despite terror and uncertainty.
• Human technology versus monstrous nature: The nuclear locomotive’s speed and mechanical power are essential, but even advanced technology is barely enough to escape the underground creature.
• Resourcefulness and opportunism: Kiki turns a dangerous encounter into an opportunity by salvaging the Human Skeleton’s Blood Essence.
• Escalating danger: The chapter expands the threat from isolated monsters to a colossal entity capable of destroying entire sections of the underground city.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian and Kiki work closely together in the locomotive’s cockpit, combining his driving skill with her telekinetic stabilization.
• Lin Xian communicates with Chen Sixuan to coordinate his return to Infinite and assess the train’s remaining power.
• Ding Junyi questions Lin Xian about the creature while maintaining a strikingly emotionless composure.
• During the Human Skeleton attack, Lin Xian orders Kiki to restrain the monster and later use the Behemoth’s arrival to destroy it.
• Kiki’s playful argument with the dead Human Skeleton contrasts sharply with Lin Xian’s serious alarm, reinforcing her fearless and unpredictable personality.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian’s Gemini 11R locomotive reaches the freight platform on Level 65 while pursuing the Infinite.
• The platform is overrun by Zombies and Human Wraiths. Lin Xian refuses to slow down, driving through them and clearing the path, while Kiki helps remove gore from the windshield.
• Lin Xian catches up with the weakened Infinite. Because the two trains cannot collide directly, he and Kiki create external carriage-linking pillars while matching speed.
• After connecting the trains, Lin Xian activates the Mechanical Heart and uses the Gemini’s immense power to push the Infinite upward through the tunnel.
• A massive earthquake and tunnel collapses intensify the danger. The destruction exposes the outside, revealing the enormous eyes of the abyssal Sky-Shading monster.
• Falling debris and Zombie inhabitants rain into the abyss as the Underground City collapses. The group realizes that the city and their trains may be unable to escape the monster.
• Ding Junyi reveals a backup system protocol that can trigger the self-destruction of Backup Core No. 3 on Level 70. The resulting explosion and floor-sealing orders could cause a chain collapse and create an escape opportunity.
• Kiki hacks the system and obtains the necessary authorization. With the monster closing in, Lin Xian orders her to activate the protocol immediately.
• The self-destruct countdown begins at thirty seconds, while the Underground City’s lights, advertisements, and automated announcements continue operating eerily as the countdown appears across its screens.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains aggressive and decisive under extreme pressure. He demonstrates both technical skill—linking and pushing the two trains—and leadership by making the dangerous choice to detonate the backup core.
• Kiki shows courage and competence despite her fear. She assists with the train connection, hacks the city’s security system, and takes control of the P4 authorization needed to activate the self-destruct protocol.
• Ding Junyi proves essential through her calm technical judgment and knowledge of the Underground City’s emergency systems.
• Chen Sixuan, Sha Sha, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen are overwhelmed by the appearance of the abyssal monster, emphasizing the terrifying scale of the threat. Ding Junyi, in contrast, stays focused on operating the Infinite.

Significant Themes

• Survival through decisive action: The characters must choose between certain destruction and a risky plan with no guarantee of success.
• Human technology versus overwhelming nature: Even advanced trains and a vast underground civilization appear insignificant beside the abyssal monster.
• Collapse of civilization: The falling city, transformed residents, and malfunctioning advertisements symbolize the destruction of the Underground City’s society and infrastructure.
• Hope amid catastrophe: The self-destruct protocol turns the city’s own systems into a potential weapon and escape route.
• The illusion of normality: Commercial announcements continue playing while the city dies, creating a disturbing contrast between routine consumer life and impending annihilation.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xian commands Kiki throughout the escape, but she acts as a capable partner rather than merely following orders.
• Lin Xian and Kiki cooperate directly to connect the Gemini 11R with the Infinite.
• Ding Junyi communicates the emergency plan to Lin Xian and Kiki, relying on them to execute it.
• Lin Xian consults Kiki about the protocol, then decisively orders activation when the monster approaches.
• The passengers’ horrified reactions to the monster contrast with the technical teamwork of Lin Xian, Kiki, and Ding Junyi.

Chapter Summary

This chapter is an author’s note explaining the story’s pacing, setting, character development, and supernatural and mechanical systems rather than advancing the plot directly.

Key Plot and Setting Information

• The early storyline is still a prelude focused on escape, following the protagonist and others from Jiang City toward the Orbital Ring while being pursued by the Dark Tide.
• Events occur over a very compressed period—often within hours or a single day—because the characters are constantly fleeing and fighting.
• The group is expected to reach Yubei City around Chapter 130 and the spaceport around Chapter 150, before entering the Orbital Ring.
• The true main storyline and broader worldbuilding will begin later, once the escape sequence ends and the characters have more time to develop.

Character Development and Interactions

• Supporting characters are introduced gradually because the rapid pace leaves little opportunity for extended interactions or detailed introductions.
• The author clarifies that the story will eventually include a wider range of characters and will not consist only of female characters.
• The protagonist is still limited by his status as a college student. Although he possesses a Mechanical Esper Ability, he lacks the expertise to freely invent advanced machines or modify complex designs.

Ability and Worldbuilding Clarifications

• The protagonist’s Mechanical Esper Ability requires:
  • Appropriate blueprints
  • Suitable materials
  • A sufficiently high Mechanical Manufacturing level
• At this stage, he can only create relatively simple designs, such as shields, doors, and cold weapons.
• He cannot independently design advanced electronics, chip architecture, armor, turrets, or complex mechanical systems without the necessary knowledge and blueprints.
• The early version of the Mechanical Heart does not grant electronic-intrusion abilities such as controlling computers or artificial intelligence. Those abilities belong to the Superbrain and may be explained later.
• The red-clothed ghost is not evidence that the story is shifting into a conventional supernatural or ghost-story genre. It was a sudden event connected to the story’s broader night-related setting, which will eventually be explained.

Themes and Authorial Intent

• The early chapters emphasize survival, urgency, and continuous escape, creating a battle-royale-like atmosphere.
• The author stresses internal consistency, especially regarding the protagonist’s technological limitations and the need for realistic progression.
• Worldbuilding elements—including the Orbital Ring, Aberrant Entities, mechs, and machinery—will be expanded gradually.
• Illustrations, including AI-generated and internet-sourced images, are used primarily to enhance atmosphere and inspire the setting rather than to create horror.
• The chapter concludes with the author thanking readers, requesting votes and subscriptions, and promising continued high-volume updates.

Chapter Summary: “Escape”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xian drives the Gemini 11R locomotive at maximum power, pushing the Infinite through a collapsing tunnel as the Abyssal Behemoth approaches.
• A countdown reaches zero, triggering explosives throughout Underground City No. 9. The central structure collapses from Level 70 downward, destroying Zombies, Human Wraiths, and ultimately dragging the Behemoth into the depths.
• The resulting earthquake and cave-in send snow, rocks, and debris into the escape tunnel. The train begins to derail as the rear carriages are struck by falling snow and rubble.
• Kiki uses her ability to hold the Infinite steady while Lin Xian struggles to maintain forward momentum. The DRX Core activates successfully, providing a sudden burst of acceleration that carries the train out of the collapsing tunnel.
• The train reaches the surface and enters Platform GF4, but Lin Xian stops rather than immediately fleeing. He realizes the heavy snow and blocked exit would make escape impossible with the two Cole carriages still attached.
• Lin Xian and the others rearrange the train on the platform, placing the Icebreaker-equipped Juying 03E locomotive at the front and the Gemini locomotive at the rear. They reconnect the Cole carriages and prepare for a new escape attempt.
• With no time to open the outer gate, Lin Xian orders the train to smash through it. The Infinite plows through a massive swarm of Zombies while the Underground City collapses completely behind them.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian demonstrates courage, decisiveness, and practical leadership under extreme pressure. He manages the train’s escape, recognizes the danger of the snowbound exit, and makes rapid tactical decisions that save the group.
• Kiki remains frightened but reliable. She supports Lin Xian emotionally and uses her powers to stabilize the train when it begins to derail, showing increasing trust and competence.
• Chen Sixuan responds quickly to Lin Xian’s instructions and helps reorganize the train, showing her ability to remain dependable during a crisis.
• Ding Junyi initially questions Lin Xian’s decision to stop, but soon understands his reasoning, reinforcing Lin Xian’s authority and strategic judgment.
• Da Lou assists with the complex train maneuvering, contributing to the group’s coordinated escape.

Significant Themes

• Survival through ingenuity: Escape depends not only on speed but also on assessing the environment and adapting equipment and tactics.
• Leadership under pressure: Lin Xian’s ability to make instant, unconventional decisions becomes essential to the group’s survival.
• Destruction and rebirth: The collapse of Underground City No. 9 represents the destruction of an entire civilization or refuge, while the train’s emergence onto the surface suggests a dangerous new beginning.
• Humanity versus overwhelming forces: The characters face the Behemoth, earthquakes, collapsing infrastructure, blizzards, and hordes of Zombies, emphasizing the fragility of human life.
• Teamwork and trust: The escape succeeds because each character follows instructions and contributes their abilities at the critical moment.

Character Interactions

• Kiki clings to Lin Xian during the countdown and later helps stabilize the train at his command.
• Lin Xian gives direct instructions to Chen Sixuan, Ding Junyi, Da Lou, and Kiki as they coordinate the train’s rearrangement.
• Ding Junyi challenges Lin Xian’s decision to stop, but their exchange clarifies the practical danger of escaping with the extra carriages attached.
• Chen Sixuan quickly accepts Lin Xian’s plan and turns the train around, while the group works together to reconnect the Cole carriages.
• The chapter ends with the entire group united in a desperate charge through the Zombie horde and into the snowy darkness.

Chapter Summary: “Reorganization”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Infinite escapes the Underground City through a violent blizzard, using its powerful engine and Icebreaker Shield to crush snow, Zombies, and obstacles.
• After traveling roughly a hundred kilometers for nearly an hour, the train reaches a relatively safe snowfield. The enormous monster from the Underground City does not appear to have followed them.
• Lin Xian stops the train to rest, concerned about an avalanche ahead and the danger posed by the train’s improvised configuration. He also plans to reorganize the unarmored research cabins and flatbed carriages being towed behind the main train.
• Kiki deploys drones and uses a Spirit Purge Value Detector fitted with a Level 2 Eerie Blood Essence. The detector records a value of zero, suggesting no Zombies or Eerie Entities are nearby.
• The group discusses the classification of supernatural creatures and the relationship between various research organizations, including the Apocalypse Federation, Dawn Project, Angel Project, and New Angel Project.
• Zhao Yan explains that terms such as Nightwalker Entities, Aberrant Entities, and Eerie Entities largely refer to the same kinds of dark-energy-related creatures, though rival factions intentionally use different terminology.
• The chapter reveals that Spirit Purge Value is not necessarily a direct measure of an entity’s strength. Its level may instead reflect how many humans the creature has consumed.
• The group also learns that the original Angel Project was reorganized after the collapse of the Federal Government, resulting in competing factions and differing scientific approaches.

Character Developments

• Lin Xian remains cautious and responsible despite exhaustion. He prioritizes both the train’s survival and the need to reorganize its vulnerable rear carriages.
• Kiki demonstrates her growing technical importance by operating the radar, drones, and Spirit Purge detector. Her knowledge of early Angel Project theories surprises the researchers.
• Chen Sixuan shows concern for Lin Xian and takes a practical leadership role by warning him about possible avalanches and poor visibility.
• Ding Junyi continues to display an unusual, emotionally detached manner. Her question about whether pretending to be frightened would gain her protection reveals that she is studying human emotional behavior rather than naturally sharing it.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen recover somewhat after the escape and provide crucial information about the history of the scientific factions and their terminology.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen are visibly uncomfortable with Ding Junyi’s blunt, inhuman conversational style, emphasizing the distance between her and the human researchers.

Significant Themes

• Survival after catastrophe: The group’s temporary safety is fragile; even after escaping the monster, the blizzard, avalanche risk, mechanical strain, and exposed carriages remain threats.
• Reorganization and fragmentation: The chapter’s title reflects both the physical restructuring of the train and the political and scientific reorganization that followed the Federal Government’s collapse.
• Competing systems of knowledge: Different factions study the same phenomena but use different names and theories, showing how politics shapes scientific understanding.
• Human evolution through the Polar Night: The Polar Night is presented as an evolutionary process. Those who survive gradually develop greater physical strength, resistance, and possibly supernatural abilities, while others become Zombies, Wraiths, or mutated beings.
• Humanity and artificial emotion: Ding Junyi’s behavior raises questions about whether fear, empathy, and social performance are genuine emotions or learned survival strategies.
• Uncertain measures of power: Spirit Purge Values and Blood Essence levels provide useful classifications but cannot fully define an entity’s actual threat, suggesting that the world’s scientific systems remain incomplete.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan: Chen Sixuan urges Lin Xian to stop and rest, while Lin Xian agrees but remains focused on reorganizing the train and maintaining security.
• Lin Xian and Kiki: Lin Xian entrusts Kiki with the Spirit Purge detector, and she successfully confirms that the monster and nearby Zombies are gone.
• Lin Xian and Ding Junyi: Lin Xian questions Ding Junyi’s lack of fear, prompting her unsettling explanation that she might imitate panic to receive protection.
• Kiki and Zhao Yan: Kiki’s familiarity with Spirit Purge Values, Espers, and Adamantine levels surprises Zhao Yan and reveals that she knows more about the old research systems than expected.
• Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and the group: The researchers explain the relationship between the Angel Project, Dawn Project, and other factions, broadening the group’s understanding of the post-apocalyptic scientific world.

Chapter Summary: “Turkey”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group learns that humanity is divided into three factions:
  • The Survival Faction, represented by the Dawn Project, seeks to preserve a remnant of human civilization.
  • The Resistance Faction, represented by the Apocalypse Federation, studies dark powers to fight and destroy the Star Abyss.
  • Sacred Revelation, a fanatical organization that worships the mutations and Esper abilities produced by dark power as “Divine Selection.”
• Sacred Revelation recruits Espers and investigates dangerous Taboo Items, reminding Lin Xian that organizations are actively seeking to exploit powers like the Eerie Radio.
• Kiki challenges the Dawn Project’s claim to represent survival, pointing out that most civilians were excluded from the Underground Cities and never informed of the plan.
• Ding Junyi explains that limited resources forced the Dawn Project to secretly select only certain people for preservation. She argues that civilization has always depended on unequal resource distribution rather than fairness.
• Lin Xian questions why the Underground City’s energy cores contained self-destruct protocols if they were meant to preserve humanity.
• Ding Junyi reveals the existence of the “Cleanse Plan,” a wartime contingency built into the city’s management system. Two backup cores could destroy entire sections of the city.
• The city’s class system is exposed:
  • Third-class citizens lived on Levels 70–80.
  • Second-class citizens lived on Levels 40–60.
  • First-class citizens lived on Levels 20–40.
• The self-destruct mechanisms were designed to eliminate lower-class populations during crises such as famine or disease, potentially killing hundreds of thousands while preserving the upper levels.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Kiki becomes openly furious at the cruelty of the Cleanse Plan and condemns those who designed it.
• Zhao Yan and Xu Wen distance themselves from the plan, insisting they are only researchers and were unaware of the self-destruct protocol.
• Ding Junyi remains composed and intellectually detached, defending the plan through sociological arguments even while admitting that she personally considers it cruel.
• Chen Sixuan struggles to understand how famine could justify self-destruction, revealing her moral shock at the system’s logic.
• Sha Sha reacts emotionally to Ding Junyi’s comparison of people to livestock, emphasizing the human cost of such utilitarian thinking.
• Lin Xian challenges Ding Junyi’s central analogy. He argues that humans are not passive animals to be managed because they possess weapons and the ability to resist. His final statement reframes humanity as “turkeys with guns,” suggesting that the ruling class’s power is not absolute.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus morality: The chapter questions whether preserving civilization can justify sacrificing large groups of people.
• Class inequality and expendability: The Underground City’s hierarchy treats lower-class citizens as disposable resources rather than human beings.
• Utilitarianism and dehumanization: Ding Junyi’s train and turkey analogies present sacrifice as a rational necessity, while the others emphasize its brutality.
• Competing responses to catastrophe: The three factions embody different philosophies—preservation, resistance, and worship of transformation.
• Human agency and rebellion: Lin Xian rejects the idea that humans can be managed like livestock, emphasizing their capacity to fight back.
• The hypocrisy of civilization: Those claiming to protect humanity may commit atrocities against humans in the name of survival.

Overall Significance

The chapter reveals that the Dawn Project’s “survival” strategy was deeply authoritarian, preserving selected groups by treating others as expendable. The discovery of the Cleanse Plan forces the characters to confront the moral corruption underlying their supposed refuge. Lin Xian’s closing remark establishes a defiant counterpoint: although humanity may be vulnerable prey in the eyes of the dark forces, humans still possess the power to resist and change their fate.