The air was thick with an oppressive atmosphere, suffocating every player present.
They stared at the scene before them—a hulking hunter wielding a massive axe, swinging it down toward the players. Opposing him was Lu Ji, who intercepted the strike with a black sword. The black sword and axe clashed midair, locked in a fierce stalemate, grinding against one another in a tense deadlock.
Lu Ji gripped the black sword tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging prominently. It was evident that blocking the murderous axe demanded every ounce of his strength.
But this was the Hunter of Station 1.
Compared to hunters from other stations, the First Station’s Hunter, chasing players with that axe in hand, had become the ultimate nightmare for anyone riding the Death Train. Encounters with him were always steeped in indescribable death and bloodshed.
His horrifying speed allowed him to easily catch up to players.
His rusted axe could effortlessly cleave through bodies, leaving players with no hope of escape.
Though the axe appeared unwieldy, in the hands of the Hunter, it became a deadly weapon of unmatched precision. Any player who faced its swing had only one fate—death. Yet here stood Lu Ji, holding it off single-handedly.
In the blink of an eye, Chai Yingying and Old Hei sprang into action, joining the fight.
As soon as they engaged the Hunter, their weapons were nearly knocked from their hands, and their palms tore open. The searing pain served as a harsh reminder of just how terrifyingly strong Lu Ji was to withstand that axe.
What Lu Ji could do, others could not.
This time, Lu Ji didn’t hide behind Gu Jiu. Instead, he confronted the Hunter head-on. Every time the axe came down, Lu Ji was the first to intercept it, ensuring the weapon never found its mark on the other players.
The Hunter gripped his axe tightly, suddenly raising a leg and delivering a sharp kick to Lu Ji’s stomach.
The unexpected blow landed squarely, sending Lu Ji hurtling backward. He crashed into the wall behind him, the impact spiderwebbing cracks across its surface.
“Ah Ji!” Gu Jiu cried out, her eyes locking on the Hunter with a murderous glint.
The axe swung again, this time targeting the nearest player. Old Hei and Chai Yingying rushed forward to block it.
The force of the swing pushed them backward. Their hands, torn and bloody from gripping their weapons, dripped with fresh blood, staining their grips.
Everyone used all their strength to fend off the axe’s relentless attacks while keeping a wary eye on the Hunter’s movements. Even with ten or more people working together, they could barely hold their ground, let alone escape.
They didn’t dare turn their backs on the Hunter.
In the chaos, Gu Jiu tore through the Hunter’s cloak, revealing his true form.
Beneath the tattered fabric stood a burly man with ashen-white skin, cloudy eyes, and cyan lips—features that made it clear to all the players that he was no ordinary human.
Unfazed by the loss of his cloak, the Hunter continued his relentless pursuit of the players.
The axe swung toward Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu moved nimbly, dodging with precision. She thrust a dagger into the wall, propelling herself upward just in time to avoid the axe that narrowly grazed the back of her head. The axe struck the wall, leaving a deep gash in the surface.
As the axe swung again, Lu Ji rushed forward, raising his black sword to block it.
The others threw themselves at the Hunter, each doing their part.
Previously, at Station 9, they had teamed up to take down two hunters, and their teamwork had since improved. Chai Yingying and the others worked to suppress the Hunter, creating an opening for Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu’s expression was icy, her crimson nails elongating into razor-sharp claws. She slashed at the Hunter’s arm with the precision of a blade.
When the Banshee’s Claws severed one of the Hunter’s arms, he finally broke free from the players holding him back. With his remaining arm, he hoisted the axe once more and swung it down mercilessly toward the group.
“Ah—!”
A piercing scream echoed as Old Hei’s hand was severed by the hunter’s axe.
Just as the axe swung again toward Old Hei’s head, the black sword intercepted it once more.
Li Jing and others quickly rushed over to shield the injured Old Hei, picking up his severed hand in the process.
Though losing an arm didn’t seem to impair the hunter much, his remaining hand was still enough to wield the axe with terrifying ferocity. The players found themselves barely able to fend off his relentless onslaught. Were it not for Lu Ji blocking the axe’s deadly swings at critical moments, the ground would have already been littered with bodies.
Time and again, Lu Ji stepped in at the last second to save their lives.
Chai Yingying and her teammates watched the scene unfold, feeling both sorrow and admiration. Even someone as strong as Lu Ji could only hold off the hunter without being able to drive him back—proof of how nightmarish the First Station hunter truly was.
Clutching the black sword tightly with both hands, Lu Ji turned to them and said, “The train is arriving soon. Head down to the B2 level immediately.”
“What about you?” Wan Xingzhou asked hurriedly.
“I’ll hold him off for now.”
It was clear that Lu Ji intended to stay behind and buy them time to board the train.
“That’s not happening!” Chai Yingying spat out a mouthful of blood and roared, “We leave together! Li Jing, take Old Hei down. The rest of us will hold him off a bit longer.”
They planned to repeat their earlier strategy, suppressing the hunter to create another opening for Gu Jiu.
But this time, the hunter wasn’t falling for it. He even actively avoided Gu Jiu. Whenever she tried to approach, the axe would swing toward her, leaving her no opportunity to sever his arm again.
“This guy is too smart! He’s deliberately avoiding Ah Ji and the young miss!” Wan Xingzhou shouted. “We should retreat and get on the train now!”
“Lu Ji, let’s go!” Gu Jiu called out.
Lu Ji swung the black sword fiercely, forcing the hunter to retreat momentarily. A golden spear materialized in his hand. With precision, Lu Ji hurled the spear at the hunter.
The golden spear pierced through the hunter’s chest, nailing him to the wall behind him.
“Go now!”
Lu Ji shouted to the stunned players, grabbing Gu Jiu and heading toward the escalator.
The players hesitated, confused. Why wasn’t Lu Ji finishing him off while he was pinned? Their confusion quickly turned to horror as they saw the hunter reach up, grab the golden spear embedded in his chest, and effortlessly pull it out.
Run!
Panic seized the group as they bolted toward the B2 level with everything they had.
The train had just arrived.
With desperate speed, the players scrambled onto the train. As they turned to look back, their hearts nearly stopped in fear.
The hunter had already reached the B2 level, charging toward the train. Despite being down one arm and having an unhealed gaping wound in his chest, his movements were unaffected. His breakneck speed gave the terrifying illusion that he was about to leap onto the train and slaughter them all.
Beep-beep-beep!
The train doors slowly slid shut, sealing the charging hunter outside.
The hunter leaned on his bloodstained axe with one hand, staring coldly in the direction the departing train had vanished. Without the cloak to conceal him, the players on the train could clearly see his pale, emotionless face—a visage as cold and mechanical as a killing machine that would never tire of slaughter.
The subway station was quickly left behind as the train hurtled forward. (TL: Phew this chapter had me sweating)
Inside the carriage, the air was heavy with the metallic scent of blood. Nearly every player bore some injury, and the most gravely wounded was Old Hei, who had lost an arm.
Old Hei slumped against the wall of the train, his complexion ashen from severe blood loss and internal injuries. Clenching his teeth, he swallowed another painkiller.
Li Jing and Pang Hou, hands trembling, worked to bandage his wounds. Li Jing tried to comfort him. “Don’t worry, Old Hei. Once we’re back in Boundless City, we’ll pool our funds to get you a Limb Regeneration Pill. Your hand will grow back, good as new. If you don’t like the new one, we can reattach your original hand—I’ve got it right here.”
With that, Li Jing, in his usual clueless manner, actually handed over Old Hei’s severed, blood-soaked hand.
Old Hei managed a weak smile. It might have been a bloody mess, but it was still his hand. He decided to keep it safe.
Others were also tending to their wounds.
Though no one had died this time, the group was severely battered. Injuries from the axe’s shockwaves were the least of their worries—players like Chai Yingying, who had actively suppressed the hunter, suffered significant internal and skeletal damage. Without their sheer will to survive, they might not even have been able to move, let alone drag their battered bodies onto the train.
As soon as they boarded, everyone immediately gulped down painkillers and healing potions.
“If this keeps up, we’ll run out of meds soon,” Chai Yingying said weakly.
Before entering the game world, none of them had expected the Death Train to be this dangerous, so they hadn’t brought much medicine. After so many harrowing days, their supplies were nearly depleted. It was clear that once the meds were gone, untreated injuries would soon lead to their deaths.
The mood in the carriage sank even further.
“Um, I still have some medicine,” Wan Xingzhou said as he wrapped a bandage around his wounded hand.
Chai Yingying lifted her heavy eyelids to glance at him. She waved dismissively. “Little Wan, even if you have some left, it can’t possibly cover all of us, right?”
Wan Xingzhou scratched his face awkwardly. “It should last… about two weeks.”
Two weeks?!
Eighty people supported for two weeks? How was that even possible?
As the group’s eyes turned toward him, blazing with hope, Wan Xingzhou felt a little self-conscious. “I’ve always been pretty unlucky, so I spend a lot of points on medicine every time. Over time, I’ve ended up hoarding quite a lot…”
The previously somber atmosphere grew lively again as everyone began praising Wan Xingzhou’s “misfortune” as a blessing in disguise.
Wan Xingzhou: “….” He didn’t want this kind of compliment.
Meanwhile, Lu Ji was tending to Gu Jiu’s injuries.
Her palms were soaked with blood, the bandages wrapped around them completely saturated. When he removed the bindings, he saw that the wounds on her hands had reopened, the deep gashes exposing even the bone.
Carefully, he began applying medicine to her wounds. His face was taut, his gaze unfocused, as though his thoughts were elsewhere.
Gu Jiu watched her intently before suddenly asking, “What about your injuries?”
“I’m fine,” Lu Ji replied nonchalantly, his jaw tightening ever so slightly as he suppressed the destructive urge rising within him. It took immense willpower to keep that chaotic force under control.
He couldn’t let the destructive force take control of him.
He didn’t want to become an emotionless destroyer, nor did he want to miss his chance with her.
“Really?”
Lu Ji hummed softly in response. Seeing that her wound had stopped bleeding, he reached for a clean bandage to rewrap her hand. Just as he began, a hand suddenly pressed lightly yet firmly on his back.
His body froze instantly, his eyes widening as he stared stiffly at the person beside him.
Gu Jiu’s hand moved gently across his back, feeling for any injuries. “Hmm, looks like you’re fine.”
Lu Ji: “.…”
His breath hitched, nearly stopping altogether. A faint blush crept across his pale face as he pressed his lips together tightly. He dared not move, his grip on her hand remaining firm. Ultimately, it was Gu Jiu who tugged his hand and continued to check him for other injuries, causing him to hurriedly sit upright.
Despite the heavy tension in the carriage, Lu Ji’s heart raced like never before.
Just now… she…
—
The train passed through ten stations without incident, and the players’ morale gradually began to recover.
Chai Yingying, clutching her still-aching chest, asked, “Old Hei, Gu Jiu, which station should we rest at today?”
Old Hei, resting against the train wall, had regained a bit of color in his face, though his voice was still weak. “Let’s go with whatever Gu Jiu decides.”
“Then let’s head to Station 25,” Gu Jiu said with a smile.
Chai Yingying turned to her with suspicion. “You’re planning to keep riding through the stations one by one, aren’t you?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “The Death Train is far too dangerous. It’s better to clear the game and leave as soon as possible.”
At her words, the atmosphere in the carriage turned somber. Everyone understood what she meant, but their hearts were heavy with uncertainty and doubt.
Could they really clear the game?
Most of them felt abandoned, trapped in this endless cycle, with no hope of finding an escape.
Chai Yingying sat across from Gu Jiu and Lu Ji, glancing at the two of them before asking, “Miss Gu, why the sudden enthusiasm?”
“When wasn’t I enthusiastic?” Gu Jiu countered.
“Enthusiastic? You? Every time I asked you before, you’d just shrug and say you didn’t know. It’s rare to hear you talk like this,” Chai Yingying teased.
Gu Jiu ignored her, pulling Lu Ji’s hand closer to inspect her further.
Chai Yingying smirked knowingly. She thought she understood now—Gu Jiu must have been worried about Lu Ji’s earlier injuries, which had prompted this newfound determination.
She sighed inwardly.
If they managed to clear the game and leave this place alive, she swore she would become the number one fan of the Gu Jiu and Lu Ji couple, cheering for them every day.