That invisible power manifested once more, but this time, Ethan Ye felt his Stamina draining away at a rate several times faster than when he had sublimated the knife.
"Phew..."
[Stamina: 90 → 30]
Collapsing onto the floor, Ethan watched the transformations occurring within the train, his heart swelling with instinctive joy.
[Train Upgrade Complete!]
[Current Level: 2]
[Materials required for next train upgrade: 200kg Wood, 200 Metal Parts, 400kg Metal Blocks.]
[Upgrade Options Unlocked.]
[Congratulations on breaking the record for the fastest train upgrade! You have received one Special Module Card.]
Composing himself, he carefully inspected the train's current condition.
After reaching Level 2, the chassis, frame, wheels, and workbench had all upgraded in tandem. The train's speed had doubled, jumping from twenty kilometers per hour to forty.
But that wasn't the focal point. What mattered was that Ethan could clearly sense that he could still perform a Sublimation on this train. Unlike the small knife, which had nearly exhausted its entire potential with a single use, the train still felt like a bottomless well—though at his current Stamina levels, even a full recovery wouldn't be enough for another round.
Unless he added his Spirit into the mix.
However, remembering the description of Spirit levels, Ethan decided to shelf that thought for the time being.
Two specific items appeared following the upgrade.
The Upgrade Options and the record-breaking Special Module Card were the things that truly demanded his attention.
[Level 2 Train Upgrade Options are as follows:]
[1: Low-Level Carriage Blueprint (0 Train Coins)]
[2: Low-Level Water Reservoir Blueprint (1 Train Coin)]
[3: Train Burst Acceleration Device Blueprint (5 Train Coins)]
[4: Increase Docking Time by One Hour (2 Train Coins)]
[Options can be fully acquired by spending Train Coins.]
"Train Coins... is that the currency of this world? I don't have a single one. Does that mean I can only choose the first option?"
Ethan frowned slightly. If that were the case, wouldn't his early upgrade be a waste of potential?
"Can I hold these options and make a selection once I have enough Train Coins?"
[Permitted. Options can be held for up to three station arrivals.]
Exhaling a small sigh of relief, he extracted the blueprint that cost zero coins.
[Low-Level Carriage Blueprint]
[Required: 100kg Wood, 150kg Metal, 60 Machine Parts]
[Optional Additions: 20kg Glass, 10kg Fiber for carriage modification.]
The materials required were substantial—at least, they weren't something easily obtained right now. As for sublimating this blueprint, he decided to wait. He didn't even have the resources for a basic blueprint yet; if the material requirements increased after Sublimation, he'd be even further from building it.
"A Special Module... just how special is it?"
Tucking the blueprint away, a diamond-shaped card enveloped in pale blue particles appeared, hovering just above his palm.
[Special Module Card]: Upon activation, grants one Special Module.
The description was simple, revealing nothing extraordinary. Only by using it would he know what kind of module he'd receive.
"This thing... it should also be able to undergo Sublimation, right?"
Once the thought took root, he couldn't suppress it.
Though he had consumed a great deal of Stamina on the train, he still had his Spirit. Furthermore, after eating the bread and drinking the water, his Stamina had miraculously recovered to fifty.
"Let's give it a try. It should be fine."
Ethan whispered to himself, then focused his mind on a single command.
"Sublimation."
The invisible force surged again. In an instant, the card in his palm erupted with countless blue particles that streaked outward like falling stars.
If anyone had been looking down from the sky, they would have seen Ethan's train accelerating across the wasteland like a comet trailing a brilliant blue wake.
"Mm..."
Ethan stared at the card in his hand, his brow furrowed in a tight knot.
Finally, the light contracted, the invisible force dissipated, and his body felt suddenly light.
[Current Stamina: 20 points]
[Current Spirit: 60 points (Mental Fatigue)]
[Sublimation Successful!]
[Special Module Card] → [Exclusive Module Card]
"30 Stamina and 40 Spirit? That's a total of seventy points. The cost is massive... but what does this 'Mental Fatigue' status mean? I don't feel much of a difference."
Ethan lay on the floor, staring at the card in his hand as he brushed the doubts aside. Perhaps it was just an illusion, or perhaps the physical exhaustion was simply masking the mental toll.
"Amen, Amitabha, may the Emperor protect..."
He didn't care if it worked; he offered a quick prayer to every deity and demon he could think of.
"Use Exclusive Module Card."
A stream of azure light enveloped his entire body, and the Train Control System's light screen flickered into existence before him.
[Using Exclusive Module Card...]
[Congratulations. You have obtained a Conductor Exclusive Module: Crossroads of Fate (Unique).]
[Crossroads of Fate]: Your path will always present a second choice. Different choices will lead to different destinies.
Before Ethan could examine it further, the train's overhead speakers suddenly crackled to life.
[Ding-dong! Please remain seated and hold on tight. The train is about to arrive at your first platform. Good luck.]
"Huh? It's already been an hour? I didn't feel the time pass at all."
He looked up at the system clock. There was only one minute left until they reached the station.
At that exact moment, a second light screen appeared on the console.
[Crossroads of Fate triggered. Please select a platform for docking.]
[Platform 1: Marshlands]
[Platform 2: Armory]
"Is this the power of the exclusive module?"
[Please make a decision. A random selection will be made once the countdown ends.]
"I choose the Armory!"
As the ancients said: If my neighbor hoards grain and I hoard guns, my neighbor is my granary.
Ethan didn't know if other Conductors would become his "neighbors," but he felt that in a place like this, nothing could provide more security than a weapon.
[Platform selection complete.]
[Please hold on tight. The train is arriving at the first station...]
[Armory]
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A deafening roar erupted from ahead.
Ethan saw it—the space in front of the train was warping and distorting, looking like the gaping maw of a beast waiting to swallow them whole.
Whistle!!
The steam whistle shrieked.
As the train pierced through the distorted space, the environment shifted entirely.
[Current Platform: Armory]
[Docking Countdown: 2:59:59]
[Good luck.]
[This station: No Danger.]