Chapter 17: Monster Train (3)

"As long as the rewards are solid..."

I carefully scanned the bold-text trade posts on the exchange. Most had high difficulty or annoying conditions, but two stood out as ones I could clear relatively easily.

"Unopened treasure chests, huh."

Regular survivors rarely even found boxes, and even if they did, the sheer bulk made them open them on the spot. Storing five intact ones was a huge hassle.

But I had my trusty drones.

"Grab five boxes from nearby like usual."

Whirr.

The two zipped out of the train. They'd probably stack them up like a tower and return in under an hour.

The first trade was basically free money.

"Now, the second one is the real prize..."

I punched the destination into the cockpit panel.

According to the post, a mysterious toxic fog blanketed the area near Siheung Neungok Station. A quick gallery search confirmed it—a local user had posted about spotting green mist.

"I must've glossed over these before..."

With the gallery user base growing, I'd been cherry-picking info and missing stuff like this.

"Poison fog... It won't seep through the train cracks, right?"

Whirr. The drones, returning with the boxes split between them, tapped the door reassuringly. As long as the seals held, we'd be fine.

"Alright, let's go."

Before departing, I shoved the five unopened treasure boxes the drones had dropped in car 2's hangar into the trade post. The bold text flashed, and the reward dropped right away.

Whoosh! A potion labeled for random stat increases plummeted from the air. I snatched it mid-fall—thank god.

It was a purplish vial, kinda unappetizing.

"...Down the hatch."

I sipped cautiously. A sweet grape aroma filled my mouth.

"Huh? Is this just grape ju—"

"Phew..."

No scam. Agility seemed useful for evasion or attacks—I was satisfied. With that nice stat boost tucked away, I turned the train toward Siheung Neungok Station.

Rumble—!

As we headed south, the scenery shifted. Leaving the ashen city behind and descending the tracks, a murky green fog enveloped us.

Apartment exteriors were wrapped in massive vines, grotesque plants bursting through asphalt waved slimy tentacles.

"Those are monsters too, huh..."

Sizzle—

Crossing into the poison fog zone, the mist hissed against the outer armor. Just noise—no damage to the train.

The AC kicked on automatically. I breathed in the cool, crisp cabin air. Poison fog hazy outside, paradise inside.

"Good thing. Let's see..."

I slowed down, peering out intently.

"There—those?"

Beyond the fog, under a bent streetlamp, fluorescent green clumps glowed. Giant pitcher plants, human-height, spewing mist, surrounded by sticky guards dripping sap. Intimidating as hell.

Normal awakeners would choke in the fog while fighting those—pure nightmare.

"Eliminate nearby plant-type monsters and gather Fierce Poison Grass."

Whirr. Hangar opened; drones slipped into the violet haze.

I focused on the monitor feed from their cameras.

"Whoa... This place is a wasteland."

The view was grim. Massive feral dogs or beast monsters that'd terrorize streets trembled on the pavement, some dead. Mana stones and items littered untouched.

"Aigoo..."

Worse: human corpses, clutching bags, collapsed fleeing the fog. Even monsters dropped to this poison—survivors had no chance.

Paradoxically, untouched spots gleamed: drone skimmed a mart and convenience store, shelves stocked pristine, pre-apocalypse style. Survivor-free zone. Long fog exposure might've spoiled goods, though.

"Check that later. Plants first."

Scout drone pivoted to a ruined building's flowerbed. Battle drone targeted the plant cluster in the thick fog.

"Fire."

Battle drone dove, silenced SMG ready.

Tututut! Muzzle flashes sliced fog.

Thud! Thud! Plants spat acid, but sluggish shots missed the agile drone. Bullets and lasers shredded thick stems and maws mercilessly.

Splat! Crunch! Green sap burst; plants crumpled. Weeds before drones. Fog was their main weapon—bodies fragile.

"Perfect matchup."

Scout drone landed gracefully, claws out. Corpses dropped mana stones and, high odds, the Fierce Poison Grass.

"Got five... Collect 30 total."

Drones nonchalantly hunted more clusters.

Forty minutes later, they returned safe with 30 Fierce Poison Grass and stones. Stashed grass in car 2 for safety; I checked the trade from car 1.

"Rewards..."

Transmitted the fresh grass; bold post flashed, system message popped.

An iridescent rainbow gem plopped from above.

"This is it."

I used the evolution stone immediately. Repair or Vitality tempted, but the train handled 99% of my survival. No hesitation—applied to Train Summon.

Fwaaah! Blinding light swallowed the train.

Last time just engine efficiency; this was different. Violent shakes, bone-rattling groans as frame rebuilt.

"Interior's the same..."

Light faded—no cabin changes. Exterior transformed: armor sleek like obsidian curves, gold-trimmed seams for luxury vibe.

"Not just looks..."

"Run without tracks... even go invisible?"

Fixed mobility flaw solved. Stealth handy too.

Problem:

- Modification cost: 100 high-grade mana stones, 5,000 dimension credits, 10 years' fuel.

"..."

I quietly closed the mod screen. 100 high-grades? 5k credits? Made my old glee over lowest-grade scraps feel pathetic.

"Eh, tracks work fine for now."

Shaking off regret, I flopped toward the sofa—

Static—!

"Huh?"

A blue window glitched before my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes. Not gallery or train system—like a status window, but forceful, alien. Blue haze filled view; typewriter text etched letter by letter.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What the—"

Clatter! Post-message, 30 real low-grade mana stones rained onto the floor, rolling.

"Holy..."

I gulped, eyes darting between stones and window. Huge bonus, but joy soured.

Gallery conspiracy: constellations. Might be real.

"Feels familiar..."

Webtoon or novel scene, now real—eerie. I chuckled dryly at the stones.