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CA : 76 No Name
🕑 Added 2024-12-24 16:00:03 +0000 UTCHearing the sound of the train, Altair sprinted to the top of a tree, peering in the direction of the approaching noise. In the distance, he spotted a trail of black smoke quickly advancing along the tracks.
In this world, due to the Kabane crisis, the entire globe has fallen. Even though the outbreak originated in Europe, Japan was not spared. Kabane invaded from the four main islands, swiftly spreading nationwide. In response, the Shogunate built tall walls around every city for survival, and railway lines connected these walled cities. All transportation and trade depended on these railways, and the steam-powered trains that carried supplies and people were known as Hayajiro. The Shogunate controlled the Hayajiro system, essentially holding the nation's economy and transportation networks in its grip.
The cities enclosed by these towering walls were referred to as stations, and the people lived trapped within these fortress-like cages. The core storyline of this world revolves around a boy who vowed to eradicate all Kabane. After developing a weapon capable of killing them, he accidentally got bitten by a Kabane himself. In a strange twist of fate, he managed to control the Kabane virus and became a Kabaneri, a being with Kabane's powers. His journey to chase after girls begins, filled with events like losing his arm, betrayals, and even the redemption of the villain.
But back to the train.
This Hayajiro was built from steel and powered by steam, giving it a distinctly steampunk aesthetic, just like the rest of the technology in this world.
The train approached quickly, and the noise grew louder. Altair, standing on the treetop, glanced down at the Kabane below. Apart from the one standing in the middle of the tracks, the rest of the Kabane had all moved to the sides, preparing for a fight.
Altair couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the scene. It reminded him of those chaotic moments in a certain country when people who couldn't afford proper tickets climbed on top of the trains.
The Hayajiro's driver seemed to spot the Kabane as well and sounded a loud warning horn, likely alerting the people inside the train. The train then sped up, preparing to charge through the area.
From the treetop, Altair crouched slightly, watching the Hayajiro rush past. As the train passed by his tree, he leaped four meters through the air and landed on one of the carriages.
Unfortunately, he lost his balance on landing and tumbled forward like a ball, rolling across several carriages before stopping by stabbing his sword into the roof to steady himself.
Tom's Body was durable, flexible, and able to take a hit, but man, were they soft!
Once he stabilized himself using the sword, Altair slowly got to his feet. He stood, pulled the sword out, and sheathed it on his back. Looking at the sides of the Hayajiro, he saw that most of the Kabane were throwing themselves at the train, but they were quickly knocked aside by its high speed. Some managed to climb aboard, but they were immediately shot down by steam rifles that poked out from the carriages, sending them tumbling back onto the tracks.
Steam rifles, powered by small, portable boilers worn by the samurai, were the primary weapons against the Kabane. Though they used steam pressure to fire bullets, their power was limited, and it was difficult to pierce the Kabane's iron-coated hearts. These weapons were mainly used to repel rather than kill.
The Kabane that were knocked off the train quickly got back up and continued chasing the Hayajiro, but their speed couldn't keep up, and they were soon left behind.
The Hayajiro sped through the Kabane-infested area, leaving the failed ambush behind. The Kabane gave up the chase and returned to the forest on either side of the tracks.
Altair stood atop the train, watching the Kabane retreat, nodding in approval. "Organized, disciplined... no wonder they're winning."
But enough joking. His next task was to find an entrance and get inside; he didn't want to stand on the roof forever.
Just as he turned to look for an access point, he noticed a head poking out from the side of the carriage below. It was a young man wearing a white hood, looking somewhat monk-like.
"How's it looking up there? Any Kabane?"
A girl's voice came from inside.
"Nothing, it's clear."
A young man replied, still staring upward.
Well, he wasn't looking at Altair but at the rectangular hole in the roof, Altair had stabbed through moments ago.
It seemed that Altair's earlier sword strike had scared them, prompting them to send someone to check.
Great, no need to search for an entrance now.
Altair crouched at the edge of the carriage, peeking down. The young man had opened the side door to investigate.
"Perfect timing."
He jumped down, landing next to the man.
"Thanks!"
"Who?!"
Startled by the sudden voice, the young man drew his sword staff in alarm. From his perspective, a stranger had appeared out of nowhere.
Equally shocked was the girl inside the carriage... a young lady in a pink kimono dress sitting on a haystack. Both of them stared at the mysterious newcomer with tense apprehension.
In contrast to their tension, Altair was surprised. He hadn't expected to run into the main heroine so soon.
The girl in the pink kimono was none other than the protagonist of this world, Mumei.
Ignoring the man wielding the sword staff, Altair fixed his gaze on Mumei. According to the lore of this world, she was supposed to be only twelve years old at this point. Altair thought back to when he was twelve... just an elementary school kid surrounded by girls with bob haircuts and ponytails, all wearing thick, plain clothes.
But Mumei? Her smooth, fair legs glowed under the sunlight, and her face had that adorable blush of youth. And then… there were her disproportionately large… assets.
"You're telling me… you're twelve years old?"
Altair couldn't hold back anymore. He had to say it!
