Lin Xian furrowed his brow and held his breath.

Crack… crack…

The sound grew closer, heavy and deliberate. His heart skipped a beat—it didn't sound like the movements of any zombie. Instead, it resembled the sound of a wooden cane tapping against gravel.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, unsure if the faint glow from his Mechanical Heart could be detected. Yet when he looked around, there was nothing unusual. The only thing in sight was the vague, dark silhouette of the small truck before him.

He turned to glance behind him. The Infinite Train stood silently on the tracks, with no sound coming from inside the carriages. Even Chen Sixuan, likely due to the arrival of nightfall, had remained quiet. Perhaps she'd fallen asleep.

Everything was unnervingly silent.

Despite the stillness, Lin Xian's heart was gripped with unease. He was certain he'd heard something, and his keen sixth sense told him that he was beingwatchedby some unknown presence.

His heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm, pushing his Mechanical Devour ability with all his might.

Faster! Faster!

【Devour Progress: 98%】

Almost there. Almost done!

It had taken nearly an hour and a half, but the results would undoubtedly be worth it if he succeeded.

【Devour Successful: Mechanical Source Points +30, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +10. Bonus Reward: Strength +5, Speed +5, Defense +2.】

【Congratulations! Your Speed Attribute has been upgraded to LV.1 3/50.】

As a faint glow flashed across his vision, Lin Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief. His Mechanical Source Points had skyrocketed, and with the upgrade in speed, his vision began to sharpen.

Whoosh—

As the devouring process concluded, the small truck disintegrated into ash. Loose items clattered to the ground, the noise shattering the stillness of the night.

But just as Lin Xian was beginning to relax, he heard it—a low, resonant hum above him.

Hoooonnnngg~

The sound was chillingly strange, like a ship's broken horn echoing through a rusted metal pipe.

It didn't sound human. Nor did it sound like any machine he had ever encountered.

A cold shiver ran down Lin Xian's back. He snapped his head upwards, and what he saw nearly made his soul leave his body.

Standing beside him was a humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall, with pale, ashen skin. Its lanky frame seemed grotesquely elongated, with arms that dangled past its knees. Atop its misshapen head sat a gaping crimson maw, grotesquely large and filled with sharp, glistening teeth. Its two round, glowing red eyes burned like embers as they stared down at Lin Xian with an unsettling intensity.

It had been standing there silently for who knew how long, unnoticed until the noise from the truck's disintegration drew its attention. The realization sent chills down Lin Xian's spine. His scalp tingled, and his entire body screamed in alarm.

Hoooonnnngg~

The creature emitted the eerie, low growl once again. Its long arm slowly raised, and its five razor-sharp fingers—like steel claws—reached viciously toward Lin Xian.

Lin Xian's pupils contracted as he sucked in a sharp breath.

If that thing grabs me, I'll be skewered into a human kebab!

Luckily, his speed attribute had just leveled up. His reflexes had become far sharper than even he expected. Before the creature's claws could reach him, his body instinctively darted a step backward.

Clang!

A harsh screech of metal echoed as the creature's claws struck the railway tracks, sending a spray of sparks flying. The shrill sound of steel grinding against steel made Lin Xian's heart pound wildly.

He didn't hesitate. Raising his hand, he aimed directly at the creature's head and unleashed a Wind Cannon.

Boom!

A muffled blast resounded, and the creature staggered back several steps as its grotesquely high-set head snapped to the side, as though struck by a heavy blow.

However, Lin Xian's heart sank.

The Wind Cannon hadn't pierced through its thick hide.

Realizing how dire the situation was, Lin Xian didn't dare waste another second. He sprinted toward the Infinite Train and climbed aboard in one fluid motion. Activating his Mechanical Heart, he simultaneously raised the rear liftgate and started the train.

Lights flickered on.

The commotion startled Chen Sixuan, who appeared from the 1st carriage and shouted toward him, "Lin, what's going on!?"

"Quick! Go to the cockpit and help me watch the road!"

"Got it!"

Sensing the urgency in his voice, Chen Sixuan immediately turned and bolted toward the cockpit without hesitation.

Whirr~

The hydraulic liftgate began to rise slowly. For the first time, Lin Xian felt like it was moving at an unbearably sluggish pace.

His fear was soon confirmed.

Before the gate could fully close, a massive, pale hand suddenly reached in and grabbed hold of the liftgate. Its sinister black claws gouged deep into the steel, leaving several jagged grooves.

"What incredible strength!"

Lin Xian's eyes widened as the interior lights of the carriage illuminated the creature outside.

The grotesque head bore only two blood-red holes for eyes, like bottomless abysses, and most of its face was dominated by a massive, gaping mouth filled with rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. The sight of those jagged fangs made Lin Xian's scalp tingle.

This thing was definitely not a zombie!

His immediate thought was clear—this creature wasn't some mutated human or infected corpse. It wasn't even from this world!

"D**n you!"

In his panic, Lin Xian shoved his fear aside, gritted his teeth, and sprang into action. He grabbed his short blade, leapt forward, and slashed down with all his might at the massive, pale hand gripping the liftgate.

Clang!

The strike did not meet flesh, but something as hard as steel. The force of the impact jolted his hand so hard that his palm went numb.

Seeing a chip form on the edge of his blade, Lin Xian sucked in a cold breath.

What the hell?! It's that tough?!

Hoooonnnngg~

The pale giant let out its eerie, resonant growl once more. Though its movements seemed sluggish, its monstrous strength was undeniable. One hand remained clamped onto the liftgate, and as the Infinite Train dragged it along the tracks, it toppled over, but it didn't let go. Sparks flew as its massive body was hauled forward.

Seemingly enraged, the creature raised its other hand and reached for the entire carriage, as if intending to tear it apart.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz!!

The screech of metal against metal rang out as the sheer force of the creature's grip caused the wheels of the 3rd carriage to grind against the tracks, spraying sparks in every direction.

Lin Xian's heart pounded wildly. The giant's strength was overwhelming, and its body impervious to blades or bullets. If it managed to derail the train, this night would surely spell his end.

Acting decisively, Lin Xian raised his hand, channeled all his energy, and unleashed another Wind Cannon—this time aiming directly at the creature's blood-red left eye.

Boom!

With the added benefit of the train's lights, his attack landed with pinpoint accuracy. A spray of dark red blood gushed from the giant's left eye, staining its pale face crimson. The thick blood slowly dripped into its gaping maw, and the creature let out an ear-piercing screech of pain.

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

The deafening howl was so sharp and shrill that Lin Xian felt every hair on his body stand on end, and his eardrums throbbed in pain.

But his attack achieved its goal. The creature's massive hand released its grip on the liftgate. Finally, the hydraulic liftgate, smoking under the strain, managed to seal shut.

Clang! Clang!

The train's speed began to pick up, the rhythmic sound of wheels clattering against the tracks filling the air.

Lin Xian immediately got to his feet and looked out, but with no exterior lights, the pale giant disappeared into the inky blackness in the blink of an eye.

Phew…

Lin Xian let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the floor in exhaustion. His gaze fell on the rear liftgate, now marred with three deep, jagged claw marks. His hands trembled as he stared at the evidence of how close he had come to death.

This was the first time in months that he had encountered something this terrifying!

"If the polar night is filled with things likethat... D**n it…" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling.

At that moment, he truly understood the horror of the night.

Escape!

There was no other choice. They had to escape the Abyss and the Dark Tides.

Last night, it had been the insect-like creatures controlling corpses. Tonight, it was this pale giant. Who knew what other horrors might lurk in the blackness?

Anyone who thought they could survive in the night was hopelessly deluded.

The only path left for humanity was to flee the tides, to flee the polar night!