Chapter 165: "Everyone Has the Right to Die."

"No need."

After taking a deep breath, Biao Zi looked seriously at the two burly men. "Are you full?"

"Uh, I could be."

"Are you full or not?"

"About sixty to seventy percent."

"Shan Mao Zi," Biao Zi turned to Shan Mao Zi. "Go heat up some more buns. Today, we'll make sure these two brothers eat their fill, and it's all on me."

Guard Car No. 7.

Everyone gathered around, staring at the two burly men in the center. The buns, which weren't particularly small, looked like tiny snacks in their hands as they devoured them one after another, clearly enjoying themselves.

"Thirty-one."

"Thirty-two."

Every time Zhang Yi and Zhang Er ate a bun, the crowd would count in unison.

Finally, when they reached thirty-six,

Zhang Yi patted his round belly and looked at the crowd with some embarrassment. "Thank you, everyone. You're all so kind. It's been a long time since I've eaten this much."

"Same here," Zhang Er said with a satisfied grin.

"..."

Biao Zi looked at the two with a complicated expression, counting on his fingers. "Including the ninety buns from earlier, you've eaten a total of one hundred and twenty-six buns. That means the two of you consume one hundred and twenty-six units of iron ore every day."

"This Train has so many people."

"Your daily food consumption alone accounts for almost one-twentieth of the Train's total daily food consumption."

"Are you two even human?"

"That other Train was only a Level 4 Train. Could it really have supported you two?"

"We never ate our fill there," Zhang Yi said sheepishly. "This is the first time we've been full. We ate a bit more this time because we were so hungry. Normally, we don't need this much. Thirty buns a day would be enough."

"Or we can eat bread slices. We used to eat bread slices before. We know they're much cheaper than buns."

"We can go scavenging for supplies. We're not useless. We're really strong. We can move anything you ask us to!"

"Right, right," Zhang Er nodded repeatedly. "If you don't believe me, I can show you."

"No need for that," Biao Zi waved his hand, his expression still complicated as he looked at the two. Director Ai had already sent him their Physical Fitness Index data. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so eager. He had to have at least one of them!

They were born melee mecha pilots!

The next day, just as the sky began to lighten.

After finishing his morning routine, Chen Mang sat at the control panel, reviewing the Train Log. Nothing had happened the previous night. Under the Vehicle-Mounted Zombie Perception Blocker, not a single Zombie had approached the Stellar Train.

The Azure Dragon Train remained quietly parked nearby.

Time to set off.

First, mining.

The Stellar Train slowly started moving, beginning its exploration of the area. The Azure Dragon Train quickly followed suit.

The overall structure of this area was a basin.

The surrounding terrain was higher, while the center was a low-lying plain. However, due to the vastness of the area, driving didn't feel particularly steep.

Only ten minutes had passed.

They encountered a dense cluster of resource mines.

There was one Level 3 Iron Ore mine and three Level 2 Iron Ore mines.

As expected of a yellow zone. They had just entered and already found a Level 3 Iron Ore mine. Without further ado, since these were surface mines, both Trains slowly parked nearby, and all the Slaves jumped out to begin the day's work.

The only difference was.

The residents from the Stellar Train excitedly rushed down with their pickaxes.

While the Slaves from the Azure Dragon Train were driven down under the whips of the Thugs.

"Mang Ge."

On the plain.

Er Dan stood on higher ground, looking at the Slaves already busy in the mines. He turned to Chen Mang standing beside him, somewhat embarrassed. "Um... Brother, can I tag along with you for a meal? The yellow zone is a bit too dangerous. I'm a little scared on my own."

"You can take the Level 3 Iron Ore mine. I'll just take the Level 2 one."

"Alright," Chen Mang smiled without saying much, then turned to Biao Zi, who was jogging over. After listening quietly, he paused for a moment before speaking softly. "Both of them will join your First Squad."

"This..." Biao Zi was slightly stunned, clearly not expecting this outcome. He had thought the best-case scenario would be getting one of them, but now he had both. His face lit up with excitement as he grinned widely. "Understood, Lord Mang!"

"..."

Chen Mang watched Biao Zi's retreating figure with a faint smile. He had his own considerations. Biao Zi had been with him the longest and was the most loyal and capable among the Guardians. With the rise of Zhang Da Mei and the Third Squad Leader, Biao Zi's authority among the Guardians had been waning.

It was time to strengthen Biao Zi.

Plus, the First Squad had recently lost a member. He was most comfortable using the First Squad, so giving both of them to the squad was the best decision for him.

Later, he'd build two more mechas and send them to the First Squad.

"Mechas are such good things," Er Dan said enviously, standing beside him. "I still don't have a single Mecha Blueprint. I don't even know where to get one. But even if I had a blueprint, it'd be useless. I don't have any Crimson Heartstone either."

"In the Shahe Plain, I haven't seen any resource mines like that."

"Hopefully, there's some in the Zombie Basin."

"This is Lord Mang's order."

Brimming with joy, Biao Zi cheerfully tossed two suitcases in front of Zhang Yi and Zhang Er. "From now on, you're members of the First Squad. Go down and familiarize yourselves with how to pilot a mecha."

"Ahem."

"If you have any questions, you can also ask your sister for advice."

Then he turned to the remaining members of the First Squad. "The rest of you, follow me to the Combat Training Virtual Space. Let's aim to complete all the normal missions of 'Biohazard' today. And Shan Mao Zi, you focus on the map Li Shiji designed for mental training."

"Now, let's go!"

Since Lord Mang had spoken, Zhang Da Mei and the Third Squad Leader didn't say anything, though they couldn't help but feel jealous as they glanced at the two mechas. Who wouldn't want their squad to be stronger?

Inside the Combat Training Virtual Space.

Biao Zi took a deep breath, looking at the four large characters of "Biohazard," his arms trembling slightly. He had already completed all three normal missions of the "Biohazard" map, which had increased his Physical Fitness Index by 0.6.

His Physical Fitness Index was now 12.8.

Only 0.7 away from the minimum requirement of 13.5 to pilot the "Executioner" mecha.

If he could just clear the extreme mission of Biohazard, it would be enough.

The extreme mission's difficulty would be higher.

And it could kill you—only one life allowed.

But...

"Confirm selection of extreme mission."

Soon, a light screen appeared in front of him.

-

"Choosing the extreme mission means death in the map results in brain death in the real world."

"In the extreme mission, Zombies are faster and stronger. Everything else is the same as the normal mission map."

"Please confirm your selection."

-

"Confirm!"

In the next moment—

The light screen dissolved into countless points of light, and the surrounding white space transformed into a familiar elevator. The elevator was rapidly ascending. He had been here countless times before.

Picking up a steel pipe from the elevator, Biao Zi stood still, silently counting down in his heart.

Then—

"Boom!"

A loud crash echoed as the elevator suddenly stopped between the seventh and eighth floors. Without hesitation, Biao Zi kicked open the elevator door, wedged the steel pipe into the gap, and pried it open before rolling into the seventh floor.

Quickly and efficiently, he found a fire axe in the seventh-floor office, kicked open the fire escape door, let out a roar, and charged into the horde of Zombies.

His adrenaline was surging rapidly.

He had experienced this many times before.

But this time, the adrenaline rush was the fastest. If every previous attempt had been a rehearsal, with a chance to try again if he failed, this was the real deal. If he died here, he was truly dead. Not even the heavens could save him!

Ten minutes later.

Standing in the fire escape, Biao Zi glanced around, not seeing a single Zombie still breathing. He grinned, running his blood-stained right hand through his hair, slicking it back, and spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged phlegm.

Then he strode down the fire escape, heading for the lower floors.

The goal was to reach the rooftop, but there were many weapons downstairs that would help him get there more easily.

He wasn't like Zhang Da Mei's three siblings, or Li Shiji, or even the Third Squad Leader. These people had incredible talent, as if they were born strong. He had nothing. He used to be just an ordinary foreman in a guerrilla team.

Just an average guy trying to get by.

Ordinary to the core.

If he wanted to get stronger, the only way was to push himself harder than anyone else!

Places others didn't dare to go, Biao Zi dared. Things others didn't dare to do, Biao Zi did.

"..."

Inside the Stellar Train, Chen Mang frowned, leaning back in his chair as he watched the screen showing Biao Zi, who was already staggering. He remained silent for a long time, his eyes never leaving Biao Zi.

"Train Conductor," Xiao Ai's voice was mechanical and cold. "If you're worried Biao Zi might die in the map, why didn't you stop him before he made his choice?"

Chen Mang didn't respond immediately. After a long while, he finally spoke softly. "Everyone has the right to die."

"You can't stop them."

On the screen, Biao Zi had reached the 17th floor, but it seemed he was at his limit. There was still a long way to the 31st-floor rooftop. He couldn't make it. Even if they forcibly pulled Biao Zi out of the Combat Training Virtual Space now, it would result in brain death.

If Biao Zi died, who would take his place?

Chen Mang silently pondered the follow-up arrangements, but he couldn't bring himself to decide on a definite successor. He was waiting, waiting for a miracle. He still wanted Biao Zi to remain as the First Squad Leader.

This was his trusted aide. Others just didn't feel right.

Just then—

On the screen, Biao Zi suddenly shakily pulled out a syringe from his pocket and stabbed it into his arm. Immediately, he seemed to regain his strength, charging into the Zombie horde and beginning a bloody massacre.

"Hmm?"

Chen Mang raised an eyebrow, partly relieved that Biao Zi had found a way to break through the crisis, and partly curious about where that syringe had come from. He remembered Biao Zi had already used one on the 12th floor.

"Biao Zi didn't use it on the 12th floor. He just pretended to."

"He's lying to me? He knows I'm watching?"

"No... he's lying to his own brain, making it think he injected it when he actually didn't." Xiao Ai sounded amazed. "At the time, I thought he was just being stingy. Now it seems he really managed to deceive himself."

"Humans are incredible. They can even deceive their own brains."

"AI can't do that."

"...Is that even possible?"

Chen Mang's expression was odd as he closed his eyes and poked his arm with his finger, trying to trick his brain into thinking he had injected himself. But perhaps his brain was too smart—the deception failed.

"That won't work," Xiao Ai shook his head. "I roughly understand the logic. It requires an extremely strong sense of belief and the ability to momentarily shift your perspective to the third person. Don't focus on the syringe. Use the pain to trick your brain into thinking the injection happened. Yeah, that's about it."

With the boost from the syringe.

Biao Zi quickly regained his vigor.

Half an hour later.

Biao Zi, his eyes filled with bloodlust and ferocity, realized the surroundings had gradually transformed back into the familiar white space. He had cleared the mission.

A white light screen appeared before him.

-

"Congratulations on becoming the first member of the Stellar Train to clear the extreme difficulty of the 'Biohazard' map."

"Pioneers are always worthy of reward."

"You have gained an additional 1.0 increase to your Physical Fitness Index."

-

Seeing the light screen, Biao Zi was momentarily stunned. Then, unable to hold on any longer, he collapsed to his knees, but his face broke into an ecstatic grin.

It had to be him!

Big Biao Zi!

Clearing the "Extreme Mission" already increased his Physical Fitness Index by 0.5, and now he got an additional 1.0. His Physical Fitness Index had jumped to—

14.3!

This number already exceeded the minimum requirement to perfectly pilot the "Executioner" mecha!

"Zhang Da Mei, you're no match for me now!"

Perhaps it was the confidence from successfully completing the extreme mission, but Biao Zi's demeanor now carried an unprecedented level of self-assurance. It was the confidence born from surviving a seemingly hopeless situation.

Though he wasn't as naturally talented as Zhang Da Mei, he was quickly catching up!

After a brief rest on the ground, he dove back in.

He wanted to seize the moment and use the remaining two attempts to clear the extreme mission, then go to Lord Mang to request a mecha.

With Zhang Yi and Zhang Er added to the mix.

The First Squad would have three mechas!

As the saying goes, good things often come in pairs.

In the Combat Training Virtual Space, the Third Squad Leader's mental strength had also reached 14.0, which was enough to pilot the "Leech" mecha.

The overall strength of the Stellar Train.

Was visibly increasing.

All the Train Crew members, like strands of DNA, intertwined and gradually formed a single rope, rapidly ascending.

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