361: Chapter 361 Farewell Ceremony: Buried in Flames!

"When we set out this morning, more than 1,400 people from the Astral Express signed up for the operation at Cloud Palace.

I still remember everyone was happy, chatting and laughing, looking forward to the harvest today, looking forward to bringing back something good.

But now, over 200 companions didn't make it back, and have said goodbye to this world forever."

Lin Xiao paused.

The carriage was so quiet that only the sobbing wind outside the window could be heard.

"As the Train Conductor, I take full responsibility for this operation."

Lin Xiao continued.

"The Silver-White Train came too suddenly, and Train Captain Baili Wuchen's attacks were too cunning. Assessing the enemy's movements is my duty, but I failed to make the correct prediction. The price of this mistake is the sacrifice of over 200 people and the injury of hundreds more.

You have reason to be angry, and you can voice your doubts. For this, I will not shirk my responsibility, nor will I use any excuses to defend myself."

As Lin Xiao said these words, Liu Bi's subordinates were simultaneously transcribing the text to the chat channel, so that passengers who couldn't come to the scene could see it.

But whether on the scene or in the chat channel, no one spoke.

Some lowered their heads, silently recalling what happened today.

Some gripped the hands of their companions beside them, casting burning gazes toward the direction of the Memorial Wall.

"However, what I want to say is that we won this battle beautifully."

Lin Xiao's gaze swept over the passengers in the carriage, his tone becoming firm.

"Facing the surprise attack of the Silver-White Train, facing the pincer attack of the Insect Swarm, not a single one of us retreated.

Train Captain Baili Wuchen wanted to use a blitzkrieg to tear through our formation, and his troops charged our positions again and again, but our defensive line did not retreat even an inch.

This is the battle merit of all of you; it was every person guarding the position who carried it through with their lives."

Lin Xiao's gaze swept over the resolute passengers in the crowd, over those families who had lost loved ones.

"But victory has a price. We live in an apocalypse; this is a world that never reasons.

From passing a station, every departure, every battle, all face the unknown and danger, all accompanied by injury and sacrifice.

The 200+ companions who fell today did not do so because they weren't strong enough, nor because they were unlucky, but because at the most critical moment, they chose to stay and block the enemy.

They fell, but with their lives, they Trailblazed a path forward for the Astral Express, illuminating the darkness ahead for all of us."

Lin Xiao's voice gradually lowered.

"The names of all the sacrificed will be engraved on this Memorial Wall, remembered by every living person, and will be with the never-stopping Astral Express forever!"

He stepped back and lowered his head.

"Now, please observe a moment of silence for them..."

Inside and outside the carriage, everyone lowered their heads.

People either clasped their hands together or clenched their fists hanging by their sides.

Others closed their eyes tightly, letting tears slide down the corners of their eyes.

The candles placed on the steps flickered gently in front of the Memorial Wall, making those names shine intermittently.

The entire carriage was very quiet.

There was no sobbing; even the sound of breathing was suppressed to the lowest level.

The moment of silence ended.

Lin Xiao raised his head and, led by Liu Bi, walked along the spiral staircase to the roof of the Astral Express.

The area on the roof had been temporarily converted into an open-air farewell site.

According to the rules of the Astral Express, or rather, the rules of this world.

Once a life form that has lost its vitality comes into contact with the main body of the Astral Express, it will be slowly devoured and dissolved, disappearing from this world completely.

Therefore, Liu Bi had neatly placed the remains of the sacrificed on simple wooden bed frames and covered them with a layer of gray cotton fabric.

Surrounded by some of the bed frames were families, friends, or squad members.

Among them, a young couple lay side by side on a bed frame; their combat uniforms hadn't been changed yet and still bore the marks of battle damage.

Their parents were gathered around.

The four elderly people, all over sixty, had expressions of grief, their faces covered in tears.

Standing next to them was a teenage boy; he wasn't crying, just looking blankly at his parents on the bed frame, not knowing what he was thinking.

"This couple were passengers in Car 10."

Liu Bi, who was following along, turned the roster to that page, his voice extremely low.

"The elders in their family had never traveled far, so the couple took the child and both sets of parents to travel south during the holiday. After the apocalypse descended, the family was trapped on the Astral Express. Without combat experience or extraordinary talent, the couple survived purely through mutual cooperation. They held on from the first stage until now, taking turns going out to fight Calamity Creatures to earn stardust. The burden of four elders and one child all rested on their shoulders. But in this morning's encounter, both of them were killed in action..."

Lin Xiao paused in his steps and sighed.

"Old Liu, after the farewell ceremony is over, please take the trouble to make another trip and send a pension to their families according to the list of the sacrificed."

After saying this, he directly initiated a trade invitation.

Liu Bi looked at the three million stardust on the panel, his expression paused, then he nodded, "Understood!"

Lin Xiao walked past the bed frames placed side by side and arrived at the head of the Astral Express.

"According to the procedure, the next step is to cremate the bodies."

Liu Bi stood behind him on the right and reminded him.

Lin Xiao nodded and took off his gloves.

Meanwhile, all family members were asked to leave the venue and stand at the rear of the roof.

In the distance, not only on Car 16, but also on the roofs of Car 14 and 15, were full of passengers.

Lin Xiao placed his right hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly toward the direction of all the fallen.

After standing still, he slowly raised his palm and activated the skill [Soul Flame].

"May your souls never be extinguished in the sea of stars!"

Dark red flames without temperature surged from his palm and spread along the ground.

The flames climbed onto the bed frames silently, gently wrapping all the resting bodies into the light.

There was no thick smoke or scorched smell at the scene.

There was only a thin layer of firelight dancing quietly in the air.

The figures lying on the beds gradually turned into specks of stardust, becoming clusters of flowing light in the dark night.

Watching their relatives and friends being swallowed by the flames, sobbing finally appeared in the crowd.

Sad emotions spread rapidly.

Just at this moment, the crowd at the back of the carriage made way for a passage.

Pearl Tear walked in the front; she had taken off her light armor from the battle and changed into a dark robe, the hem of which fluttered gently in the wind on the roof.

Behind her were Jing Hua, Princess Xiyao, and the other female Merfolk.

They were all wearing traditional costumes of the Di Peoples Kingdom, walking out of the crowd one by one, their steps light and slow, their bare feet stepping on the cold metal roof.

The Merfolk stopped on the outer edge of the burning flames, holding hands, forming a circle.

Subsequently, in this farewell ceremony, singing from the deep sea rang out.