46: Chapter 46: More than six million people died.

[ Ding! Train power upgrade successful! ]

[ Current Train level: LV3 (Power Core LV4) ]

[ New features: Energy Shield (can consume energy to resist a certain degree of attacks), Intermediate Maintenance Platform (can repair damaged equipment below Elite grade), Material Decomposition Table (can decompose useless equipment or items into basic materials). ]

[ Travel speed increased by 100%, hull defense increased by 150%, energy efficiency increased by 80%. ]

Looking at the information displayed on the console, everyone in the cockpit revealed expressions of wild joy.

"That's amazing! Now our Train is practically a mobile steel fortress!" Jiang Ning punched the air excitedly.

Teacher Qin Bing was also beaming; with the maintenance platform and decomposition table, the team's logistics and sustained combat capabilities had taken a qualitative leap forward.

Su Qingxue was more focused on the data: "Both speed and defense have more than doubled. If we encounter danger in the future, we'll have much greater leverage, whether we choose to fight or flee."

Fang Che was also in a good mood.

He reached out and swiped across the brand-new console, clicking on the [World Channel].

He wanted to see what the outside world had become while they were fighting for their lives against the boss.

The World Channel interface popped up.

It was still the familiar waterfall of information, with countless messages flashing by so quickly that it was impossible to read the content.

"Is there any water? Our carriage is almost out of water, willing to trade food for it!"

"Help! Help! We're trapped at a station full of zombies, someone save us!"

"Selling one F-rank talent awakened, pretty and well-proportioned, only need 100 units of food, coordinates XXX, XXX."

"Is the person above even human? Trading people at a time like this?"

"Heh, get lost you sanctimonious prick, surviving is the only thing that matters."

"Wuwuwu... My teammates are all dead, I'm the only one left, what should I do..."

The chat channel was filled with despair, hostility, transactions, and useless trash talk, no different from before.

Fang Che was already numb to these things; his gaze locked directly onto the top of the channel.

There were a few eye-catching global statistics there.

[ Plane Survival Game: Day 3 ]

[ Total Global Population: 8.2 Billion ]

[ Global Survivors: 8,193,702,471 ]

Fang Che's gaze was fixed firmly on the last number.

He subconsciously subtracted the two numbers.

8.2 billion minus 8.193 billion...

The difference is... over six million?

"Over six million dead?"

His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet cockpit, it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Teacher Qin Bing, Su Qingxue, and Jiang Ning, who were excitedly discussing the Train upgrade, all went quiet and looked at him in unison.

Fang Che looked at the number again, confirming he hadn't misread it.

It really was over six million fewer people.

How long had it been?

From the start of the game until now, not even a single day had passed!

In less than twenty-four hours, the population of a medium-sized city had completely vanished from the world.

Behind this number were over six million broken families, countless cries of sorrow and despair.

Although he had already witnessed death and even ended lives with his own hands, seeing such a concrete and massive number still made Fang Che's heart ache intensely.

Teacher Qin Bing saw the shock on his face, walked over, and spoke in a surprisingly calm tone.

"There's nothing to be surprised about."

Fang Che looked up at her.

Teacher Qin Bing continued: "Your level is high now, your talent is strong, and our team's configuration is good. So, you can't feel the true despair."

"But not everyone is as lucky as we are."

"With such a large population base, even a very low mortality rate becomes extremely exaggerated when applied to the terrifying figure of 8.2 billion."

She paused, her eyes becoming somewhat profound.

"Moreover, these six million-plus are probably just the beginning."

"According to the laws of human nature, when the shortage of food and water reaches a critical point, true chaos will erupt. At that time, humans killing humans will be even more terrifying than monsters killing humans."

Mu Waner also walked over and spoke softly.

"Teacher Qin Bing is right. Analyzing the information from the chat channel, many carriages still don't have a stable source of food, and some haven't even found a source of clean water. Our situation here is as good as it gets."

Listening to their words, Fang Che fell silent.

Indeed, he seemed to have become a bit out of touch with the reality of those suffering.

He subconsciously scanned his own carriage.

In the carriage, the girls who had just finished washing up and changed into clean clothes were gathered in small groups, whispering to each other.

Although their faces still carried fatigue and sadness, there was more relief at surviving and longing for the future.

There were jokers like Jiang Ning, cold-faced class monitors like Su Qingxue, steady mentors like Teacher Qin Bing, and chatty little girls like Lin Xinyi and Chen Keke.

There were over thirty girls, each with a different personality.

But from the start of the game until now, except for the two who had just sacrificed their lives, most of them were still alive.

Moreover, after experiencing life-and-death trials, this temporarily formed team was more united than ever.

Fang Che suppressed the heaviness in his heart; he was not a savior and could not control the life or death of the world's 8.2 billion people.

The only thing he could do now was to do his best to protect the thirty-plus people behind him.

He turned and walked out of the cockpit, standing in the center of the carriage.

Everyone's gaze focused on him.

Fang Che looked at everyone and said: "I know everyone is tired and sad. We lost two companions, and that is something none of us wanted to see."

"But, the apocalypse is just this cruel. We don't have time to grieve; all we can do is live better for their sakes as well."

"The harvest this time is huge. Later, Su Qingxue will distribute supplies and equipment based on contribution. I promise everyone, as long as you are genuinely thinking of this team and are genuinely willing to contribute, then power, equipment, and even opportunities to awaken talents will be available in the future!"

"I don't need every one of you to become a warrior like Jiang Ning, but I hope that when the next danger comes, everyone can contribute their own strength, instead of hiding behind others and shivering!"

"We are a whole. Only when everyone becomes stronger can we go further in this damn apocalypse!"

Fang Che's words were like a shot of adrenaline, injected into everyone's hearts.

The girls who felt lost and fearful because of their companions' sacrifice saw their eyes regain their resolve.

Indeed, what was the use of being afraid?

This world would no longer leave any room for the weak to survive.

The only way to survive is to become strong!

Watching everyone's fighting spirit reignited, Fang Che nodded with satisfaction.

This was the wolf-like team he wanted.

However, he didn't notice that in the corner of the carriage, three girls were huddled together, whispering about something.

Chen Keke and Xu Zhaozhao pulled their best friend Jiang Ning aside.

"Ningning, are... are you sure about this?" Xu Zhaozhao looked at Jiang Ning with some worry.

"This isn't a joke..." Chen Keke was also full of nervousness, her little face pale.

Jiang Ning glanced at Fang Che, who was not far away discussing the distribution of supplies with Teacher Qin Bing and Su Qingxue. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then became incomparably firm.

She nodded vigorously.

"I've decided."

Her voice was very low, but exceptionally determined.

"Didn't you see? Fang Che is getting stronger and stronger, and surely many classmates want to do that with him now. Although I was the first to have a relationship with him, I feel that we need to form an alliance to compete with the others in the team."

"We must demonstrate our value to truly stand firm. Instead of waiting for others to get ahead of us later, we should take the initiative now."

"With the three of us together, I don't believe we can't drain him dry. This is an investment; if we win the bet, our future will be secured."

Looking at the determined Jiang Ning, Chen Keke and Xu Zhaozhao looked at each other, and finally gritted their teeth and nodded heavily.