117: Chapter 117 High-speed train attacked! The level 60 fusion monster's target is the first-class carriage.

Early the next morning, Lin Feng headed out.

He first went to the Fusion Workshop and left all the equipment he had rushed to make overnight for Pan Jingjing and the others. Over three hundred pieces of blue equipment, over fifty pieces of purple equipment, and over eight hundred pieces of green equipment filled the entire warehouse.

Li Xiaoyu stared at the pile of equipment, her eyes widening. Li Xiaoyu's mouth hung open, unable to speak for a long time. Pan Jingjing's hands trembled as she held the ledger.

"Boss, just how far are you traveling?" Pan Jingjing asked.

Lin Feng smiled. "Maybe a month or two. Maybe longer. This should be enough to sell for a while. If I'm not back by the time they're all sold, just take a break—a paid vacation."

The three girls shook their heads in unison. "We don't want a vacation! We want to work!"

Lin Feng was amused. "Alright, alright, work it is. I'm off then."

"Stay safe, Boss!"

"Come back soon, Boss!"

"Boss, we'll miss you!"

The three girls stood at the shop entrance, waving to him. Lin Feng looked back once, smiled and shook his head, then turned and walked into the crowd.

...

At 9:00 AM, Lin Feng stood at the entrance of the Donghai City High-Speed Rail Station.

This was his first time taking the high-speed rail. In the past, he would always take a taxi or fly, but this time he was going to The Capital, over a thousand kilometers away. Flying would be too conspicuous. Although the high-speed rail was slower, it was low-profile.

The high-speed rail station was huge. A massive glass dome allowed sunlight to pour down onto the polished marble floors. People hurried past, dragging suitcases. The intercom looped train information and various advertisements.

Lin Feng walked into the waiting hall and found a seat. In the center of the hall hung a giant electronic screen playing a video.

It was a promotional video for the Explorer Association.

In the footage, a young Explorer stood before a Dungeon entrance. He looked back at the camera, then turned and walked inside. The next second, the scene switched—he was already inside the Dungeon. Holding a longsword and covered in blood, he fought a massive monster. Sword light flashed, and the monster crashed to the ground. He stood on the monster's corpse, looking into the distance. Subtitles appeared—

[Explore the unknown, protect our home. Join the Explorer Association and become a hero of humanity.]

Lin Feng watched the video, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Beside him, a teenage boy was also engrossed. His eyes sparkled as he clenched his fists, muttering, "So cool... I want to be an Explorer too."

His mother beside him smiled and shook her head. "What Explorer? It's too dangerous. Study hard and get into a good university."

The boy was unconvinced. "Explorers can go to university too! Look at that person, they must be really powerful!"

Lin Feng withdrew his gaze and looked down at the S-Rank badge on his chest. The silver badge glinted under the lights. He took it off and tucked it into his pocket. It was too flashy; better to keep a low profile.

The announcement rang out. "Train G7 is now boarding. Passengers, please line up at gate A12."

Lin Feng stood up and headed toward the ticket gate.

...

First class was in the first carriage. Lin Feng found his seat by the window. He stowed his backpack and sat down. The seat was spacious, made of leather, and could recline fully. Beside him was a middle-aged man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, reading a document. Opposite him was a young woman wearing headphones, her eyes closed as she listened to music.

Lin Feng leaned back, looking out the window. People bustled on the platform—some dragging suitcases, some leading children, some carrying briefcases. Sunlight spilled from the dome onto them, feeling warm.

The train started. It was very steady, with almost no vibration. The scenery outside began to recede—the platform, the waiting hall, the station buildings. Then came the city streets, with skyscrapers flashing past. Finally, the suburban fields, stretches of green wheat waving in the wind.

Lin Feng stared at the scenery, gradually lost in thought.

The words Chen Lin sent last night surfaced in his mind again.

"I... am with someone else."

"His name is Li Mingze, a third-year senior at the academy."

"I know I promised you that I'd come back to find you once you became stronger and I graduated. I remember everything I said. Every single word."

"But I... have changed."

"I'm sorry, Lin Feng. I wish you happiness."

He closed his eyes. Those words were like needles, pricking his heart one by one. It didn't hurt intensely, but it pierced deep.

He remembered when they were children. They were young then, living in the same neighborhood. Chen Lin's house was next to his, separated only by a low wall. She was always climbing over to play with him. Once, she fell off the wall and scraped her knee, crying her eyes out. He had scrambled to put a band-aid on her, but it was crooked, and she laughed. With tears still on her face, she laughed.

He remembered junior high. They weren't in the same class, but they walked home together every day. She would always chatter away about interesting things in class, which teacher lost their temper, or the novels she was reading lately. He would just listen, occasionally chiming in. The walk wasn't long, but it always felt like it went by too fast.

He remembered the day of the Awakening ceremony. Everyone's eyes were focused on him—Radiance Sun Crown Physique, Prodigy Rank. The whole place was in an uproar. Then his Talent awakened: F-Rank Talent, Fusion. The whole place went silent. Those looks changed from envy to pity, and from pity to mockery. Only Chen Lin stood by his side, shielding him from those gazes.

"What's wrong with an F-Rank Talent? Can't someone with an F-Rank Talent become strong?"

He remembered those words to this day.

He remembered before they parted. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. It was very light and quick, like a feather brushing past. Then she turned and ran, her ponytail swinging in a beautiful arc under the sun. That was the last time they saw each other.

Lin Feng opened his eyes. The scenery outside had changed from fields to mountains. Verdant peaks rose and fell, partially hidden in the mist.

He no longer blamed her. Truly. Everyone has the right to choose. She chose a different path, and he wished her well. It's just... that empty spot in his heart still needed time to heal.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

...

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Feng was jolted awake by a piercing alarm.

"Warning! Warning! Unknown energy fluctuation detected! Rank: S-Rank! All combat personnel, please prepare for battle!"

Lin Feng snapped his eyes open. The carriage was in chaos. The middle-aged man's documents had fallen to the floor. The young woman listening to music took off her headphones, her face pale. Several children were crying, and the adults trying to comfort them had trembling voices.

The announcement rang out again. "All passengers, please remain calm! Do not panic! Do not leave your seats! Repeat, do not leave your seats!"

Lin Feng stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the once-clear sky had darkened. It wasn't a cloudy day; something was blocking the sun.

He looked up. His pupils suddenly contracted.

It was... a monster.

It floated in mid-air, its massive size blotting out the sun. At least a hundred meters long, it was pitch black and covered in dense scales. Each scale was the size of a washbasin, glinting with a cold, metallic luster. Its shape was like a snake, but not quite. Along its sides were over a dozen pairs of wings. These wings weren't feathered like a bird's but were membranous like a bat's, covered in eerie purple patterns. Its head resembled a Dragon's but was far more grotesque. Its mouth held three rows of sharp teeth, each as thick as an arm. Its eyes were blood-red, like two burning fires.

It hovered in front of the high-speed rail, opening its mouth to let out a deafening roar.

"Roar—!!!"

The sound made the train windows vibrate. Several children burst into tears from fright.

[Fusion Behemoth: Destroyer (King Rank)]

[Rank: 60]

[health points: 12,000,000]

[attack power: 280,000-350,000]

[Defense: 220,000]

[Skills: ???]

[Description: A monster formed by the Fusion of various Void Creatures, possessing terrifying destructive power and recovery capabilities. It has low intelligence but extremely strong combat instincts. Usually appears in areas with dense void fissures, but this is not its normal range of activity.]

Lin Feng looked at the description, his heart sinking.

Level 60. These stats were stronger than those three from the Gazi Race combined. And this wasn't a void fissure area; it was a high-speed rail line, a supposedly safe zone. How could it appear here?

"Something's wrong..." Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. "It's not an accident. Someone did this on purpose."

His gaze swept over the carriage. First class, the first carriage. He was sitting in the first carriage. Was the monster's target here?

"Bang!"

A loud boom. The train's emergency braking System activated, and the train decelerated sharply. People in the carriage were thrown about, screams and cries blending into one.

"All combat personnel, follow me!"

A middle-aged man in uniform rushed out from the back of the carriage. He held a long saber and radiated a Level 45 aura. Behind him followed seven or eight people, all between Rank 40 and 50.

They were the train Attendants—guards stationed on important transport lines by the Explorer Association.

The middle-aged man rushed to the carriage coupling and opened the door. A gale howled in. He looked up at the sun-blotting monster and took a deep breath.

"Brothers, let's go!"

He was the first to charge out. Swinging his long saber, a white Saber Qi slashed toward the monster's head! The seven or eight people behind him followed suit. Various skills exploded like fireworks!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Saber Qi struck the monster's scales, sparking a trail of fire. Flames crashed into it, exploding into a ball of light. Ice arrows hit its wings, shattering into shards.

But the monster didn't budge an inch.

[Fusion Behemoth health points: 11.99 million / 12 million]

One strike only took off ten thousand health. Compared to a total of twelve million, it wasn't even a scratch. The monster lowered its head, its blood-red eyes staring at the few people floating in the air. Then, it moved.

A tail sweep!

The tail was like a massive pillar, sweeping across with a howling wind! Its speed was incredible! Several Attendants couldn't dodge in time and were struck by the tail!

"Ah—!"

Amidst the screams, three people were sent flying like broken kites! They tumbled dozens of times in the air before crashing heavily into the distant fields!

[Attendant A, health points: 32%]

[Attendant B, health points: 28%]

[Attendant C, health points: 19%]

One blow, three critically injured!

The middle-aged leader's face went pale. He gripped his saber, his hand shaking. "Captain! We can't win! We can't win at all!" a young man behind him cried, his voice trembling.

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth. "Even if we can't win, we have to fight! We can't let the monster get near the train!"

He charged again! His saber swung, Saber Qi crisscrossing! But those strikes only left a few shallow white marks on the monster. The monster didn't even bother looking at him, simply raising a claw and swatting casually.

"Bang!"

The middle-aged man was swatted away! Like a cannonball, he slammed into a distant hillside, creating a large crater!

[Attendant Captain, health points: 41%]

He struggled to crawl out of the crater, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Looking up at the monster, his eyes were filled with despair.

"It's over..."

The monster ignored him. It lowered its head, its blood-red eyes fixed on the first carriage. Then, it opened its mouth. Deep in its throat, a purple light began to condense. That was—destructive energy.

Lin Feng stood by the window, watching the monster. He saw its target clearly—the first carriage. And in the first carriage sat... He looked around. The panicked passengers, the crying children, the trembling adults.

And... in the corner, a person wearing a hat and a mask. Their face was hidden, but their eyes were very calm. Too calm for an ordinary person.

"It's him." Lin Feng's heart stirred. The monster's target was that person.

He looked away and out the window. The Attendant Captain had crawled out of the crater again. Covered in blood, he was still charging forward. "Can't... let it... get close to the train..." he roared, his voice hoarse.

Lin Feng watched him, silent for a second. Then, he pushed open the carriage door. A gale howled in. He stood by the door, looking up at the sun-blotting monster.

He didn't make a move.

He stood there, watching quietly. He watched the blood-soaked Attendant Captain charge forward again and again, only to be swatted away each time. He watched the Rank 40-plus Attendants give their all, yet fail to even break the monster's Defense. He watched the purple light in the monster's mouth grow brighter and more concentrated.

He was waiting. Waiting for a moment. Waiting for the moment to strike with a single killing blow.

The purple light in the monster's mouth had condensed into an energy sphere three meters in diameter. It lowered its head, aiming at the first carriage. The person wearing the hat stood up.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. The person walked to the window and looked at the monster outside. Their gaze was still calm.

Then, he spoke. The voice was soft, but Lin Feng heard it clearly.

"Lin Feng, aren't you going to act yet?"

Lin Feng's heart jolted. He knows me?

He no longer hesitated. The dragon slaying sword was unsheathed. Its pitch-black blade and golden patterns glinted in the sunlight. He unfurled his Wind Wings and soared into the sky.

The wind howled in his ears. He hovered before the monster, the dragon slaying sword pointing diagonally at the ground. The monster's blood-red eyes stared at him.

Lin Feng looked at it, a smirk playing on his lips.

"You want to touch this train? You'll have to go through me first."

The monster opened its mouth and let out a deafening roar. The purple energy sphere shot from its mouth, hurtling toward Lin Feng!

Lin Feng didn't dodge. He just gripped the dragon slaying sword and charged toward the energy sphere.

"Bring it on."