The air in Cabin One was heavier than I imagined. My heart pounded as I pushed the door open, stepping inside with Sheena, Neha, and Elena close behind. What we saw left us speechless.
There was no driver.
The train was running by itself. The dashboard flickered with neon lights, and the massive screen on the wall was alive with a news broadcast. The anchor's voice crackled through the static:
"Breaking news from Cox's Bazar. The city is in chaos after a catastrophic dungeon break. A dungeon gate has opened, unleashing monsters that have overrun the city. The rail lines are destroyed—"
My eyes darted to the magnetic map on the dashboard, showing the train's trajectory. The rail lines ahead were shattered.
"—and no one can escape using the magnetic rail system. The trains are now death traps, with no way to stop or divert them. Reports indicate that only Saga Industry engineers can repair the lines, but they are nowhere near the city. Anyone on the trains is… doomed."
Doomed. That word hit harder than I expected.
"Impossible," I muttered, staring at the screen. "A train this advanced running without any energy source… powered only by magnetic force? No driver? Free rides for everyone? This was supposed to be humanity's breakthrough, not its tomb."
The cabin shook violently as the train lurched forward, the screech of metal-on-metal drowning out every other sound.
"Eric," Elena said, stepping closer, her voice unusually calm. "I have a plan."
Her words pulled me out of my spiral. "A plan? Are you kidding? The rails are gone! The monsters are loose! And this train doesn't even have a driver. What could you possibly have in mind?"
"Buy a Time Changer," she said, her tone as steady as a sniper's aim.
"A what?!" I blinked, unsure if I heard her correctly.
"You heard me. Use your Dark Web Shopping site to get one. We can teleport the entire train out of here!"
"Teleport a train? That's insane!"
Elena's eyes burned with resolve. "Insane is the only option we've got! The Time Changer can move anything, anywhere—but it's forbidden tech. Only someone with access to the Dark Web Shopping network can get it."
My breath caught. Forbidden tech? A machine that could bend time and space? This sounded like something out of a nightmare—or maybe a dream.
"I'll buy it," I said, opening the app on my interface. My fingers moved faster than my thoughts. Moments later, a massive, futuristic machine appeared in the cabin with a low, echoing VWOOM.
The Time Changer looked like it belonged in a sci-fi war movie—gleaming, silver coils glowing with faint blue light, and a power meter on the side blinking at zero percent.
"The catch?" I asked, still staring at the machine.
Elena didn't hesitate. "It needs an unimaginable amount of energy to teleport something this massive. That means…"
She didn't need to finish. I already knew.
"…I have to use my Anium."
"Exactly," she confirmed.
I grabbed the cables attached to the machine, the cold steel biting into my palms. This was going to drain me dry. I sat cross-legged on the floor, closing my eyes to focus.
"Eric!" Sheena's voice rang out, laced with worry. "Don't push yourself too hard! We'll handle everything else. Just focus on powering that thing!"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, my grip tightening. "You better keep them off me."
With a deep breath, I unleashed my Anium.
FOOSH!
Blue lightning surged through my veins, crackling as it flowed into the machine. The power meter began to climb, but slowly—too slowly.
1%... 2%... 3%…
Suddenly, the lights in the cabin flickered and went out. Darkness enveloped us, save for the eerie glow of the Time Changer.
"What the hell?" Neha hissed.
Then came the pounding.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
The pounding on the locked cabin door grew louder, more erratic, like a beast clawing to break free.
"Elena, Sheena, what's happening?" I growled, my focus locked on the Time Changer. Blue lightning crackled around me as my Anium surged into the machine. The power meter ticked up painfully slowly—20%.
"Someone's desperate to get in," Elena said, her voice calm yet razor-sharp. "Eric, don't lose focus. We've got this!"
CRASH!
The door exploded inward, the steel panel flying straight at me.
"ERIC!" Sheena's voice cut through the chaos.
Before I could react, she leapt forward, intercepting the deadly projectile. Her blade met the door with a deafening CLANG, shattering it into harmless fragments. Sheena stumbled but stayed upright, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Not on my watch!" she snarled.
I couldn't see the intruder, but I felt their presence—an oppressive, sinister energy that sent a chill down my spine.
"He's here," Elena murmured, her tone heavy.
"Who?" Neha demanded, gripping her weapon tightly.
"The driver," Elena answered.
But this wasn't just a man.
A low, guttural chuckle echoed through the cabin, a sound that made my blood run cold. Then came the voice—deep, distorted, and resonating like a demonic chorus.
"So, you're the infamous Eric," the figure said, stepping into the dim light. "The one Princess Sarah has her eye on. How pitiful."
Sarah?
The name hit me like a thunderbolt, nearly breaking my concentration. My Anium wavered for a split second before I forced it back into the machine.
"What are you talking about?" Elena demanded, stepping forward. "Sarah… Princess Sarah… it can't be."
"Oh, but it is," the driver sneered. "Sarah, the great soldier from the Imperial Army? A lie. Sarah, the caring girl who always thought of Eric? A façade. She is the Dev Princess, heir to the throne of Diablomon."
"What nonsense!" Sheena shouted, pointing her weapon at him. "Sarah would never—"
"You fools believe her lies because she's a master of deceit," the driver hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "Did you know she cracked the Devil Degree Exam with a score of negative 100%? The only one in history to fail so spectacularly and still succeed! The greatest liar of all time!"
"Shut up!" Neha spat, stepping forward. "I don't care about your twisted stories. If you're here to harm Eric, you'll have to get through us first!"
Elena's voice faltered, uncharacteristically shaken. "If Sarah is the Dev Princess… then…"
I clenched my fists tighter around the cables, my concentration teetering. Sarah? The kind, brave soldier I knew? Could it be true?
"Elena!" I barked. "Focus! Don't let him mess with your head!"
"Right," she muttered, snapping out of it. "But Eric… if he's telling the truth…"
"Then we'll deal with it later," I growled. "Right now, he's the threat."
The driver grinned, baring sharp, jagged teeth. "Oh, you won't live long enough to worry about Sarah. I'll kill you here and now, and your precious 'heroes' will be gifts for her to toast in the fires of Diablomon!"
"CREEPY!" Sheena exclaimed, her face twisting in disgust.
CRACK!
The driver's body contorted, his limbs elongating as dark, chitinous armor erupted from his skin. His eyes glowed a sickly green, and horns spiraled from his head. He towered over us, his voice now a thunderous roar.
"Behold my true form! I am no mere man—I am a Diablomon!"
The cabin shook under the weight of his transformation. He loomed taller than any human, a grotesque amalgamation of muscles and darkness.
"Eric, keep going!" Elena shouted. "We'll handle this!"
BOOOOM!
The Diablomon lunged, his claws slicing through the air like blades.
Sheena blocked his first strike with her weapon, the force sending her sliding back.
"Neha, now!"
Neha darted in, her movements swift and precise. Her blade slashed at the Diablomon's arm, sparks flying as it struck his armored hide.
"Pathetic!" the monster roared, swiping at Neha with his other claw.
WHOOSH!
Elena appeared in an instant, catching the claw mid-swing with a glowing shield.
"Not so fast," she said coldly, her voice steady once more.
The three of them moved in perfect sync, attacking and defending with unrelenting ferocity.
Meanwhile, I poured every ounce of my focus into the Time Changer. The meter climbed steadily: 30%... 40%... 47%…
But the strain was immense. Sweat dripped down my face, and my muscles screamed in protest.
"Elena! Sheena! Neha!" I called out, my voice strained. "I need more time!"
"Time's one thing we don't have!" Sheena shouted, narrowly dodging another swipe from the Diablomon.
The monster laughed, a deep, menacing rumble. "You think you can hold me off? You're nothing but insects under my feet!"
"Then you don't know what kind of insects we are!" Neha snapped.
Elena launched forward, her glowing blade slicing toward the Diablomon's neck. He caught it with his claws, snarling.
"You're persistent. I'll give you that," he growled. "But persistence won't save you."
"Neither will arrogance," Elena shot back, her blade flaring with energy.
BOOM!
Their clash sent a shockwave through the cabin, but none of us backed down.
The meter ticked up: 50%... 51%…
I gritted my teeth, my body screaming in protest. "Just a little more…!"
The roar shook the air like a detonated bomb. "You think you can hide behind these women and survive?" he spat, his voice guttural, distorted, almost mocking. "I'll shred you like paper, boy!"
He lunged.
FWOOOSH!
The speed of his massive claws was unreal. One swipe, and I'd have been a goner. But before he could reach me—BAM!—the trio was there, blocking the attack in perfect synchrony.
The impact was like thunder. A shockwave erupted, the ground beneath us shattering into splinters. Dust and debris flew everywhere, but the three women didn't flinch. They stood firm, their combined power holding Pine's monstrous strength at bay.
Sheena stepped forward first, her voice calm yet dripping with confidence. "Eric's busy right now," she said, her sweet smile sending a chill down my spine. "And we're not about to let some oversized brute ruin his moment."
Neha followed, her spider puppet String Spider skittering into position beside her. Its sharp, gleaming threads hummed with energy, practically vibrating with anticipation. "You're big, loud, and ugly," she quipped, her tomboyish grin flashing. "Guess what? We love picking fights with guys like you."
Elena materialized next, her scythe crackling with raw Anium energy, its dark glow matching her fiery gaze. She adjusted her stance, her usual composed demeanor replaced by a dangerous edge. "Pine," she said coldly, "you've chosen the worst possible time to mess with us."
Pine's lips twisted into a grotesque grin. "You think three of you can stop me? You're nothing but ants beneath my claws!"
BOOM! His massive arm came crashing down, aiming to obliterate all three of them in one strike.
But Sheena was faster. ZAP! In a blink, she teleported, reappearing atop Pine's arm like a ghost.
"Ants?" Sheena mused, placing a glowing hand on his grotesque exoskeleton. "Even ants can bite, you know."
With a flick of her wrist, a spatial rift ripped across Pine's arm, slicing through the thick armor as if it were paper.
SHRRRAAAK!
Pine howled, his roar shaking the ground. Black, viscous smoke poured from the gash, but the beast wasn't done.
"You'll pay for that!" he bellowed, swinging his other arm wildly at Sheena.
SNAP! WHIRRR!
Neha's String Spider was already in motion. Its sharp threads wrapped around Pine's legs, pulling tight as the spider hissed menacingly.
"Yeah, big guy!" Neha shouted, yanking the strings tighter. "Let's see you move now!"
The threads hummed with deadly precision, their sharp edges glinting in the dim light. They dug into Pine's legs, cutting into his thick armor—
But then, SNAP! The threads broke.
"Pathetic!" Pine sneered, slamming his foot down. The force sent tremors through the ground, knocking Neha off balance.
"Guess we'll have to try harder!" Neha growled, leaping back up with a wild grin. "C'mon, Stringy, let's dance!"
While Pine was distracted, Elena made her move. She summoned a gatling gun from her Dark Web Shopping, its barrels already spinning.
WHIRRRRR!
"Let's light him up," Elena said, her voice low and icy.
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!
The hail of bullets tore through the air, each round infused with Anium energy. They slammed into Pine's chest with the force of cannonballs, driving him back step by step.
The room filled with smoke and the deafening sound of gunfire. For a moment, I thought it might be over.
But then—
ROOOOOAAAAR!
The dust cleared, revealing Pine's battered but still-standing form. His exoskeleton was cracked, glowing red from the onslaught, but his eyes burned brighter than ever.
"Is that all you've got?" he snarled, extending his claws into massive blades.
He charged Elena with terrifying speed, the blades cutting through the air like guillotines.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Elena met him head-on, spinning her scythe with lethal precision. Sparks flew as the two clashed, the sound of metal-on-metal ringing out like a deadly symphony.
"You talk big," Elena said, sidestepping a strike and slashing at Pine's exposed side, "but I'm not impressed."
Her scythe bit deep, the Anium energy surging through Pine's body and making him roar in pain.
But he wasn't giving up. With a desperate swing, he sent Elena flying into the wall.
"Elena!" I shouted, my heart racing.
"I'm fine!" she called back, already pulling herself up. "Focus, Eric! Keep loading!"
I clenched my fists, staring at the 57% displayed on the device. Not fast enough, I thought.
Pine, however, wasn't about to let me have my moment. He turned toward me, his claws raised.
But before he could strike—
WHAM!
Neha's String Spider leapt onto Pine's back, its sharp threads wrapping around his neck and pulling tight.
"Gotcha now!" Neha yelled, her voice dripping with triumph.
Pine clawed at the threads, his movements growing more frantic.
"Not so tough now, are you?!" Neha taunted, her grin widening.
Meanwhile, Sheena appeared behind Pine in a flash of light. Her hands glowed with spatial energy as she slammed them into his back.
FWOOSH! A massive spatial rift tore through Pine's body, cutting him from the inside out.
Pine let out a guttural scream, his form flickering, cracking. But even as he fell to his knees, his laughter filled the room.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" he rasped, his body beginning to reform. "I am eternal!"
Elena stepped forward, her scythe glowing brighter than ever. Her eyes narrowed, her expression cold.
"Eternal?" she said, raising the weapon. "Let's test that theory."
With a single, decisive swing, she brought the scythe down on Pine's head.
SHHRAAAAAKK!
A blinding light filled the room as the energy from the scythe tore through Pine's body, erasing every trace of him.
When the light faded, Pine was gone.
The room fell silent, save for the hum of the Time Changer, still loading at 59%.
I exhaled shakily, my legs trembling beneath me. "Is it… over?"
Sheena smiled, brushing the dust off her clothes. "For now."
Neha grinned, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "You owe us dinner, Eric. Next time, try not to piss off homicidal monsters."
Elena smirked, her scythe vanishing as she turned to me. "Focus on the task at hand. There's always another battle waiting."
I nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. This wasn't the end. Not even close.