Chapter 170: Leaving the Nineteenth Station: The Trial of the Gray Mist

Just when one wave subsides, another rises.

No sooner had we left the platform than something special arrived.

Whether it's the station world or the wasteland.

It's always like this.

"No danger, but with a question mark?"

The same prompt as back at the Forward Station where the Smiling Mask was...

So, could this Gray Fog be related to the gods?

The moon that should have been in the wasteland sky was shrouded by the gray fog.

The gray mist surged from beyond the horizon, gradually moving toward the train.

Until it enveloped the train.

The world outside the window plunged into darkness and dead silence.

As if entering an endless underground tunnel.

The Illusion Surveillant and Sentry were all activated.

The Hunt-Patrol Mech-Dragon was directly summoned, hanging from the top of the train in its normal state.

The Raven demon stood guard at the rear of the train.

The concept of time seemed to be disappearing in this darkness.

The never-failing pocket watch once again played its role.

Starting from returning to the wasteland, one minute, two minutes...

Besides quiet, there was only quiet.

As if nothing would happen within this gray fog.

Three minutes....

Thump—

Heartbeat?

He heard a sound coming from outside the train.

Looking out the window.

In the darkness, a small white dot had appeared at some point.

The white dot was rapidly approaching.

In the blink of an eye, its full form could already be seen clearly.

That was... an eye?

An eye with grayish-white wings?

Buzz~

Suddenly, an item automatically flew out from the train's storage unit and landed in Ye Qiyan's hand.

"This is..."

[ Dream Eater's Fantasy Crystal ]

Dream Eater?

Why would it appear here?

No, wait... this feeling is very familiar!

Ye Qiyan's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously opened his palm. The Anchor appeared in his palm, but...

"As expected!"

Before leaving the previous station, he had used the anchor once, leaving a coordinate in Ten Cangmi City.

But now, the Anchor's coordinate wasn't responding!

No, it wasn't that there was no response, but rather...

This isn't reality!

This is a dream!

This isn't the first time experiencing something like this! This feeling is exactly like a dream!

"Could it be the Dream Eaters are here again? I need to wake up first..."

The illusory crystal obtained from the giant corpse in the Don Quixote world appeared at this moment.

The crystal shattered, turning into streams of light that enveloped him.

The dream ended!

Buzz!

Dream Eater!

The dreamlike, wondrous jellyfish-like lifeform appeared before him.

It gently touched Ye Qiyan's cheek~

The surrounding gray darkness disappeared without a trace.

Everything returned to calm.

"Whew..... Hah.."

Opening his eyes.

Outside the window was the moon hanging high in the night sky.

The Red Tears Demon and Raven Demon stood quietly by his side.

WALL-E stayed quietly by the bed, absorbing electricity.

Opening his palm, the Blasphemy Card appeared in his palm.

The coordinate was responding.

"What happened to me just now?"

Ding—

The system's voice sounded at this moment.

[ Congratulations, you have completed the Gray Fog Trial— ]

[ When the train's docking time reaches 24 hours, you will be able to enter high-level stations above Level 8. We wish you~ to continue moving forward~ Now clearing memories related to the Gray Fog... ]

[ Error? ]

[ Unable to clear memories of the Gray Fog Trial for Train Conductor Number E-3-1102, Ye Qiyan? ]

[ Error! Error! ]

[ "....." ]

[ "Trial memories cannot be cleared, issuing task." ]

[ Task Name ]

[ Shh~ Please don't mention the Gray Fog ]

[ Shh~ This is very important! ]

[ Task Reward: 30 Train Coins ]

"......Huh?"

The Gray Fog wasn't fake.

But this inexplicable trial wasn't fake either.

To enter Level 8 stations and become a higher-level Train Conductor, must one complete this trial?

But no one had ever mentioned this before, no matter who I asked.

And their memories about the Gray Fog were cleared?

What about me?

What's the deal with being unable to clear mine?

"System, what would have happened if I couldn't wake up from that dream? And when exactly did I enter that dream?"

[ "...Due to this serious error incident, the train system will answer three of your questions regarding this trial." ]

[ "Nothing would happen, because you would eventually wake up. The trial is not meant to consume and kill the Train Conductor, but to test whether those with talent have firm spirits and can quickly realize it's a dream. However, if the awakening time is too long, it will reduce your maximum mental and physical strength. The time you entered the dream was the moment you returned to the wasteland, when the Gray Fog noticed you." ]

[ "Ding—Since the beginning of the Train World until now, you are the second Train Conductor to wake up within one day." ]

"No reward?"

[ "None." ]

"Tch, stingy."

[ "......" ]

"What about that winged eye? What was that?"

[ "That, was the Gray Fog." ]

"?"

An inexplicable answer that's completely incomprehensible.

There was still one last question left. Ye Qiyan frowned and thought carefully, when he suddenly noticed that the Dream Eater's Fantasy Crystal by his feet had developed some cracks.

Reaching out to pick it up, gently stroking it, before he could even feel heartbroken, the cracks actually grew larger.

Crack—

The crystal shattered.

A dreamlike, jellyfish-like lifeform, only the size of a baby's palm, landed in his hand.

"???"

[ Dream Eater (Juvenile) ]

[ The Dream Eater tribe likes the aura on your body. They cannot stop, but their children, perhaps can.... ]

"So this was actually an egg?"

Touching the tiny Dream Eater, it felt soft and somewhat cool.

It affectionately clung to Ye Qiyan's finger, as if tired, and directly burrowed into his clothes.

Looking down.

The little creature had actually pressed directly against his chest. Reaching out to touch it, it felt as if it had completely merged with his body.

"Although I don't really understand.... System, last question, why is there such a trial? Is it related to the gods?"

The system quickly replied:

[ "That is the Gray Fog's choice. The gods have no authority to interfere" ]

[ "Answers completed. Task has been issued. Reward distributed." ]

Dark golden light points condensed into thirty Train Coins before Ye Qiyan.

Then, the system's voice completely disappeared.

As if nothing that just happened had occurred at all.

"This day has been really strange... I clearly feel like I learned a lot, but somehow it feels like there are many things I still completely don't understand..."

"Hah~"

He stretched contentedly, lay on the bed, looked at the ceiling above, and smiled.

Rather than thinking about these troublesome matters.

It's better to rest properly and wait for physical and mental strength to recover.

It's time for the next train sublimation.

Got thirty Train Coins for free.

Hopefully, the next upgrade options.

Won't let him down.