Returning to City 01, the trio enjoyed the amenities of a modern society for a few days till representatives of the Architectural Guilds were present at the City Hall, along with them a Locomotive Engineer. Paul was called to the Conference room while Alana and Bahamut were forced to wait in the main lobby. There, two player generals from the Men of the Woods and One man from the Space Faring Guild in a lab coat wait.
“General Paul I assume.”
“Yes, good afternoon everyone.”
After getting seated and relaxed. The man in the Scientist spoke first.
“I have faith in the three of you, the rocket booster parts are EXTREMELY expensive and complex to manufacture. Three Generals… all level two hundred… I hope you'll be able to deliver. If only you people knew how hard it was to produce these things in Dark World and then assemble them in an Isekai World. This is no joke, you people, I don’t care if you're fifteen or eighteen, you have power and you have lots of it. I’m entrusting to you all our hopes and dreams.”
“Just as you trusted us in producing and making those rocket parts back then, we’ll see through it till the end. Our Ally here should be able to keep things in check.”
A man wearing an outfit similar to Indiana Jones barges in the conference room, getting the attention of everyone.
“Ah, Professor. What brings you here?”
The man was extremely frantic, going to the front of the desk, slamming it with his bare hands. His German accent was strong, screaming from the top of his head.
“The Sarcophagus! It’s on that train!”
Confused, Paul raises his hand and speaks up.
“A Mummy?”
“NO! A VAMPIRE QUEEN! YOU MORONS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!”
“Wha-what?!”
The Doctor then stood up. Pointing his finger at the Professor.
“You moron! Why is it on the train carrying such important cargo!?”
“It was to protect it! There’s people after it and we can’t let it go into their hands! It wasn’t even in the Manifest for the supply ship! It was added by a third party!”
“You should’ve told your men to not pick up on evacuation!”
“Do you seriously think I had the time when my people were getting mauled by giant wolves and scalped by Elves?!”
One of the Generals of the Men of the Wood slams the desk. Prompting the two Experts to silence.
“Now… what’s this Vampire Queen about again?”
Calmed and scared, the Professor opens his pouch and reveals the photos of the English and Japanese text they found on the Ancient Labyrinth. The three Generals were amazed.
“WOAH! Do you have evidence on who wrote that?” The Generals from the Men of the Woods and Paul were ecstatic to learn they weren’t the first ones.
“Read it, General. All of you, read it!”
Minutes came and the three generals leaned. Paul, still processing the information, tries to speak with what he’s getting.
“So… an ancient Vampire, the one that has almost enslaved the humanity of this world… is inside that train?”
“In a Specialized Containment Boxcar, used to transport Mana nukes.”
One of the General annoyingly comments.
“Exactly how did you know this Doctor? Seeing your reaction.”
“I had to dig around and check for the manifest. I told them to move it to the front.”
“And out of all places, why behind the locomotives?!”
“Because that’s where the most amount of protection is located.”
“But that’s also because the train’s engines are the most important part you nitwit!”
Paul then raises his hand.
“Uhhh.. why not just return it Professor?”
“I cannot as the Labyrinth is closed. The Russian Officers blew it up with them. Trapping the Wolves and Elves that were attacking us.”
“So… what exactly are you planning on doing with this Lab coat?”
The Doctor then breathes in and out.
“I guess, send it to space?
“HUUUUHH?!” Everyone was dumbfounded at the idea till the Professor rethought about it.
“Hmmm… Sheisse it might actually work.”
“Professor, exactly how will this work?” the General of the Men of the Woods didn’t have a hopeful face at all.
“Well, in space, it's extremely cold. Freezingly cold. If by chance she escapes, she’ll just freeze.”
“Jesus… I guess this simple Freight run just got more complex. But are you fucking sure she’ll freeze? If she has the power to end the world, I highly doubt space is enough to stop a woman like that.”
“We can only hope, or see to it and if it ever opens. We’ll be able to respond.”
“What’s up with us and world ending events? First the robots, now this?!”
WIthin the next hour of back and forth arguments and finger pointing, the train engineer was called in the room. One of the Generals from the Men of the Woods introduces him and he immediately starts his briefing with a no nonsense attitude.
“The train will consist of Eleven AC-Four-Four Thousand-CW. It's about One hundred and twenty cars long. Mixed Manifest Consist, double stack Fifty Three foot container vans in the back, Main Battle Tanks and Military equipment after that, and then the rocket boosters loaded in special lowbed flatcars with four bogies. The entire line will first go through a dense forest, the speed limit is a hundred miles per hour, then we’ll have to slow down to eighty to ninety when in the zigzags of the valley. After that, we should see the Technocity of the Doctor here.”
“How deep is the valley?”
“About a six hundred to seven hundred drop. Seven locomotives will be placed in the front, three helpers in the back. Train will not stop and will continue on even if the path is blocked. Any questions?”
“Do you have any info on the car behind the seventh locomotive?”
“Last I checked at the rail yard, it's a special containment for nuclear rods or weapons.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“Anything else?”
“What’s your expertise before here?” Paul’s question gives the engineer a smile.
“I worked for CSX up on Cheyenne hauling Coal and Double Stacks. The train we’re using is exactly the one I drive. I also have my colleagues with me in overseeing the header in the front and the helpers in the back. Five of us in total.”
Everyone in the room nods in agreement. After a few more minutes, the Conference was finished. Tired and sleepy from it, Paul immediately walks to the Main Lobby and sees a cute side of the Vampire. Sleeping upright while her hand was still on top of Bahamut who was also asleep. The personnel walking past them smile at the wholesome sight. He goes down and sits down on the bench and also sleeps.
Alana peeks after feeling some weight on her right shoulder and sees that it’s Pauls’ head resting. He is snoring loudly and is drooling a bit with his mouth open while murmuring about eating Fast Food. She gently uses her red gloves to wipe his saliva and close his mouth. Feeling tired still, she leans in on him and sleeps.
The next day, they immediately prepared to go to the airport as heavy rain was expected to come down and even light snow. The C-5M Super Galaxy transports the trio to the Continent of Geraldia, back to the Capital city of the Men of the Woods where in the railyard, the Freight train awaits, guarded by Special Forces and an M1A2C Abrams. Paul’s personal Green Beret’s were also present with Trevor’s Black Ops.
Donned in Black BDUs, they arrive at the gates at night, a few hours before the train’s scheduled departure. The rain was pouring down and some of the streets already had large puddles of water. The Humvee transporting him and his companions stops near a Switch Room with a storage unit next to it. The soldier opens the door for him as rain drops from the skies like a faucet.
The railyard was illuminated by light poles but Construction Lamps were also scattered to light up some of the parts that had deep water.
“Armory is that storage unit sir. My higher ups said you can take whatever you want and need.”
“Alrighty. Thank you. Can you take my Vampire friend here to the cab of the train?”
“Of course sir.”
The driver takes an umbrella and escorts the Countess to the freight train’s locomotive. He on the other hand goes to the storage unit. A makeshift EMP proof military container van, opening the door he’s greeted by an Irish looking man.
“Welcome laddy’. What can I getcha’?
He takes a gander at the wide selection of guns, the racks were full of M4A1s, Mk 17 Scar Hs, HK416s, AA-12s, M249s and M1014.
“I’m a General from the Knights of Eldwood, I’ve come to help in the Freight run. And… wow, I’ll uhhh… take the Curly Black Hair and the Tall Blonde.”
“Alrighty.”
The Armory Master takes an M16A4 with an M203 Grenade launcher.
“Here ya’ go. Stoner’s great Bush wacka’. STANAG Thirty Rounds, M-Two-O-Three for Forty Mike Mikes, Five-Five-Three Holographic sight and an AN/PEQ Fifteen on the rail. Proven and tested in Nam’ and the Middle East.”
“Nice. Got PMAGs?”
“Should have some under the desk.”
Paul clicks the mag ejection button, placing the STANAG next to it while the Armory Master piles some PMAGs on the desk.
“Just ten please.”
“Alrighty.”
After that, he goes to the left of the Container van, on the shotgun sections and takes a Benelli M1014 Semi Automatic shotgun.
“What rounds ya’ want on this baddie?”
“Hmmm… got a High Explosive Twelve Gauge?”
“Ahahahaha! Now ya’ talkin’.”
The burly man violently takes one of the ammo boxes for 5.56 cartridges and opens it revealing a bunch of shotgun shells labeled “EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE”.
“Talk about my birthday. Also, I need Class Five ACH and Kevlar.”
“Aye, want it in the color black to come with that BDU of yours?”
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“Yes please.”
“Should have some in the back.”
He first drops the shotgun on the already full desk.
“Here ya’ go. Wick’s favorite dessert.”
Paul takes the Benelli, loading one in the chamber and nine in the tubes.
“Huh, this is ten rounds.”
“Aye, it's a special forces version. Italy’s baby.” He then lifts a box full of SPCs and rummages to the bottom where he finds an all black one. The man then goes to the very back of the container van and takes one of the Advanced Combat Helmets off the shelf.
“I also got knee and elbow pads ‘ere. Need it?”
“Yes please.”
The General then proceeds to wear everything, loading the five ammo pouches with the PMAG magazines and taking an attachable belt bag for the 12 gauge shotgun rounds. Loading them with High Explosive, Flechette and Slugs. The remaining space he puts 40mm HEDP for his M16A4s underbarrel M203.
“Need me some M-Sixty Sevens and Flashbangs.”
“Aye, I’ll get some fer ya’.”
“Also, do you guys have GPNVGs?”
“You really know how to haggle a man. I’ll get some for ya’.”
The Irish man opens a drawer full of pouches which stored the Quad Nods GPNVG. He throws it at Paul who catches it.
“Arigatou.”
“No problemo’. Enjoy.”
He takes one last look around and takes some combat goggles and a Balaclava
“I’ll be sure to try to return as many of these as I can.”
“Aye.” The Armory Master waves and the General closes the container vans door. He puts on his epaulets with four stars to depict his rank and goes through the pouring rain and to the train cab a few hundred meters away. Inside, Alana is sitting down on the reserve seat while Bahamut is looking around, fiddling with the buttons while the Engineer tries to make her scram from switching something she shouldn’t.
The General swifty opens the door to the cab, looking like a dog who went out to play in the rain.
“Oh my, if it isn't the General.”
“Hello Alana…”
He proceeds to sit down on the floor, trying not to get the seats wet.
“Good Evening Sir, we’ll be leaving in an hour or so. We’re just waiting for Number Fifty Six to pass us by and stop here in the yard.”
“How long is that one?”
“About Seventy Double Stack cars pulled by three locomotives.”
“Knowing the Hill, they must be working those monsters hard.”
“Each of these General Electrics trains has Four thousand four hundred horsepower. It’ll get through.”
After a while, Train # 56 finally arrives, the ground rumbles as the locomotive passes them by at 20Mph. Slowing down as it parks at a siding. After a good five minutes, the entire train passes and the Light turns Green. The Engineer picks up the radio and clicks the talk button.
“EC One Number Eight Twelve Ten, Date Nine/Twelve/Seventy, M-E-N Dash Zero Zero One Point Zero, Woodstock South Railyard, Train is Alpha Two-Two-One Dash Ten, Engine is M-O-T-W One Thousand One, B.A. James, Operating on Main Track, South Direction. From Woodstock South Railyard to Technocity North Siding Four.”
“Copy, All trains are alerted of the Golden Goose. Good luck.”
The Engineer presses the Bell button, alerting everyone to start boarding and make final preparations. Players commanding mindless skeletons jump in some of the special boxcars with mesh protected windows while others fill the empty train cabs behind the lead locomotives. The two generals from the Men of the Woods also board, armed to the teeth and ready to do damage to any attackers.
Blasting the horn twice, the Engineer pulls down the Automatic and Independent Brake Notches and puts the throttle at Notch 3. Slowly making his way up to Notch 5. The train wheel slips as its bogies are dipped in water. He turns on the Sanding and slowly the train gains traction, the gigantic mile long consist starts rumbling through the railyard. The workers cheer and the rocket Scientist who was inside a Warehouse office salutes at the leaving Iron Horse.
It picks up speed at the downhill slope, reaching Sixty Miles Per Hour. Water was splashing everywhere as the train plows through the high tide. Inside, the Conductor enters and sees the very full cab.
“Ben, keep her at Notch Eight if you can.”
“Aye, how long are we here again?”
“About a day or more if the rain causes us problems.”
“Alright, keep her steady now CSX boy.”
“Right up yours, BNSF.”
For two hours, the train battled heavy winds, fallen trees and high water levels. The sheer amount of momentum generated made it seem like it was just big bumps in the road. As instructed, the train didn’t stop for anything. Slowly, the shower came down to a light sprinkle. The entire time, Paul was frantically going around the cab. Even annoying the Vampire.
“When are you gonna calm down?”
“This is such a perfect opportunity for them. I know they've been watching us since we left the city.”
“Ugh, can you at least sit down? You're already dry.”
“No.”
“C’mon. Later, in the city, I’ll cook you some beef? How about that?”
“Ahhh, you know how to click my buttons.”
“Heehee. You're an easy man.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
She just facepalm. Unbeknownst to them, a Subaru WRX has been trailing the train the entire time. But the loud rain drowned out the sound of its engine. Inside it was the infamous Sword Saint and her group. Ready to board the train, along with them were men in horses, planning on destroying the military equipment being transported near the middle of the consist.
Slowly they approached the fourth locomotive, before the soldier guarding could say anything, an arrow strikes him and embeds his head on the train. Back in the first locomotive, Paul checks in with the men and they all say it's good.
“Here, take my seat and calm down.”
“What, I won-” gunshots are heard. One of the Engineers that was checking one of the broken step lights was ambushed.
“I KNEW IT! TO ALL CALLSIGNS! LOOK ALIVE! WE GOT INTRUDERS!”
Paul opens the door and immediately sees the Sword Saint in her majestic armor walking right towards them. He instinctively closes the door making the Countess worry.
“What is it?!”
“It’s the Sword Saint.”
Bahamut then places herself behind the Engineer, protecting the man operating the train.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Alright, I’ll take care of her.”
“Just get her back to the-” a Divine Sword then slices through the door, prompting the Knight General to open fire with his M16A4. Unloading an entire mag on the woman, dazing her. The Vampire takes advantage of this and uses her teleportation to bring the two of them to the rocket boosters.
“Bahamut! Secure the train! Fly!”
The Engineer opens his window where Bahamut exits through and flies upward. Paul on the other hand starts running to the first car, where the Vampire Queen was held at. Other cars opened up, revealing Special Forces soldiers. Firefights occur at the back of the train as they meet more invaders. With the help of the Night Vision goggles, the skeletons and players were able to dispatch any would-be attackers quickly but they’re numbers and creative tactics slowly chiseled at their numbers.
In the front, the Purebred Vampire and Sword Saint were having a grand battle, unable to scratch one another.
“To any aircrafts in station, I want you to take off right now! The rain has died down and I need you guys to support us! The Freight train is under attack!”
Blackhawks spool up on a nearby Outpost, hearing the call from the General from the Men of the Woods; back at the train, the helper locomotives get attacked by an unknown man. He’s so powerful that guns weren’t working on him and was throwing fully kitted out Black Ops soldiers like they were plastic toys.
“Strawman calling any units! We’ve encountered some super powered dude here! Requesting back up right now!”
“Affirmative, I’ll be sending the Vampire to you.”
Paul then goes to the roof of the train, running and jumping to the first boxcar. He nearly slips multiple times from the rain and wind.
“VAMPIRE! MY MEN NEED YOU AT THE REAR!”
“BUT WHAT ABOU-”
“I’LL HANDLE HER, GO!”
The Countess kicks the Sword Saint out of her way and uses teleportation multiple times to quickly get to the back and help the men in the rear cars.
“We meet again, Paul.”
“Hello Elizabeth, guess it’s time for round three eh?”
“Indeed. I think our score is One to One?”
“I’ll make that One to Two.”
With immense speed, Elizabeth quickly closes in, making things harder for him who was armed with guns. Not backing down, the General grabs his M16A4, freshly reloaded and fires it at the Saint. Forcing her to dodge while he retreats more.
“You know, you don’t really look like an Eldritch Knight to me.”
“Oh really? Why is that?” He drops the mag and loads another one.
“You seem too soft for such a title.”
“Let me tell you, what powers us Eldritch Knights is not Evil, but anger. And I’m a very angry man.”
“Seems about right, seeing how you’ve conducted yourself over the years.”
“What? Miss me already? Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
“Oh I have, I wanted to finish what we started.”
“Ain’t that right? Well, unless you do a really good job, I won’t simply reveal to you my armor again.”
“Is that so? Heh. We’ll see about that.”
Using Divine Magic, she casts herself some spells even Paul didn’t know, making lightning hit her and she then runs to him like a bolt. Electrifying the armored boxcars, seeing this, he dodges her while unloading more rounds into her armor. He nearly falls off the roof dodging her if it weren’t for the side rails. He teleports back behind her, using the opportunity to switch his weapons.
Seeing that his M16A4 was useless, he slings it back and takes his M1014 Benelli.
“You really don’t know when to give up?”
“As long as I have bullets, I’ll keep dancing.”
“Then let’s!”
She tries to use teleportation but when she appeared behind him, The Knight General already had his gun trained at her, firing off a High Explosive 12 Gauge shell. Throwing her to the next boxcar.
“Goddam it works!”
Not wanting to give her a breather, he keeps unloading shells right at her. Her armor takes it all except the shockwave, preventing her from moving. Cornered, she materializes her shield, which she uses to push the General out of the train, running at him while tanking the shotgun blasts.
In return, he teleports, but she also detects this, blocking his shot from behind. At the rear of the train, the Countess is fighting a strange man in a cloak. He dodge and accepts her slashes.
“Ara, tough one aren’t we?”
“Never knew a Purebred would be helping the humans. Strange times.”
“What can I say, they’re more entertaining than most Vampires.”
The two go at it again, this time he was able to scratch her though it instantly healed. The attack caught her off guard, prompting her to be more aggressive, aiming for his heart. The soldiers defend the Vampire as she battles the man. Kicking anyone trying to get in the two’s way and shooting the Knights trying to pull the couplers.
She manages to corner the man, as he tries to balance himself from falling off, Alana cuts his head off. Problem was, the strange guy stopped her hands before reaching his neck.
“What?!”
The Vampire is shocked at the Godlike speed of the stranger, being able to not only dodge her attacks but also stop her hand with his.
“Just what are you…”
“An Ancient man you need not know.”
“Just what are you?!”
Now in serious mode, she materializes her Longsword. But no matter how much she cuts him down, he just uses it as an opportunity to cut her open. It was an absolute shitshow for the soldiers around them, blood and severed limbs was being thrown around as if it was Beer on a Sunday night. The Vampire then started casting spells. Her sword burned a crimson red, the man was able to dodge it but her next slash cut through his chest, revealing a red Knight armor. She then tries to strike her sword straight at his armor, not even scratching
“Impossible!” Alana cried.
“For you, but not for me.”
“What beast are you?!”
He jumps off the train, going around the Vampire with speed akin to a supersonic jet fighter. In return, she throws her Longsword at the stranger like a Spear. Embedding it on its back, it merely flings off and he gets back at slicing her with his bare hands.
Back at the front, Elizabeth and Paul are inside the Special Containment Car, its roof completely blown off. They were choking one another, like two dancers on a floor, they spin around, hands on each other's necks.
“What… Do you want… from this train?”
“Nothing you should know off…”
Soldiers that had finally killed the intruders around the Rocket Booster were then again met with an old face. It was Samantha, the Vampire Alana defeated outside of Kingsland. She stops the soldiers from helping Paul against the Sword Saint. One of the Generals of the Men of the Woods steps up. Gun up and taunt the lady for a fight.
“I always had a thing for teens with silver hair. Come at me pretty face, I’ll make it worth your time.”
The train powers through the forest, entering a mountainous area and slowly, the left of the tracks becomes a stone wall while the right is a drop hundreds of meters down. Sir Anthony, who was placing plastic explosives they got from one of the cars, got rattled as Bahamut landed on top of a tank, burning the Elven troops he took with him with a white bluish fire.
“Thou shall feel the burning flames of the void.”
He takes out his Bow and Short Sword, quickly entering a combat stance, ready to face the Dragon God head on as his special round shield materializes on his back.
“Not my first time fighting you, Bahamut. You were a pain in the ass in the Global Boss Event, though I guess this should be easier seeing how you're smaller and not even in human form.”
“Oh my, would you want to fight me in human form?”
“A long, cool woman in a black dress. You were a meme for Months having such an eye-catching human form. Dubbed as the Dragon Waifu who spammed Laser beams and Ancient Spells.”
“Heh, I did enjoy fighting thousands of you alone.”
He charges at the Dragon as it opens its mouth once again, using his shield, he tanks the normal breath but slowly she adjusts it to blue while trying not to damage the military equipment. Her fire was not enough, instead choosing to concentrate it and as he got closer, the more and more resistance he felt and the heat was slowly transferring to his arm and a laser beam was beginning to form.