As the students boarded the spacecraft, chaos continued at the scene.
"Who said they could go up but not us?"
"Don't be scared, these robots are just empty shells. Let's charge and take control of the ship!"
The square erupted into violence as countless people rushed toward the robots with murderous intent. However, when laser beams sliced through the front ranks, they quickly calmed down.
"This train still has 217 seats available. Selection is required." Though the method was cruel, Damian had no choice—he couldn't just throw out passengers who had already boarded. He could only try to select the most valuable people to take with him.
When the crowd heard there were still two hundred spots, they went wild.
"Is this controlled by aliens behind the scenes? Pick me! I'll be your ox or your dog—anything!"
"Alien boss, choose me! I'm still a virgin and can fulfill all your desires!"
"I'm a celebrity—far above these people. Please, pick me!"
Damian scanned the crowd through the ship's cameras but recognized no one else.
[Detected that the host has physiological impulses toward beautiful women. Suggest selecting beauties for the remaining spots—they can be kept as pets.]
Damian scoffed. "What good are beauties? Will they help my future? Issue the order: prioritize high-IQ individuals, especially engineers from various fields."
Once the order was given, some rejoiced while others despaired, and the riots flared up again. Damian couldn't be bothered to pacify them—anyone who caused trouble would be killed outright. They were doomed to die here anyway.
As high-IQ candidates came forward to board, the available spots dwindled. Then, an unexpected situation arose.
"Can my child and wife take my spot? The child won't take up a seat—her mother can hold her." A man with a sallow face knelt on the ground, pleading desperately.
Damian pulled up the man's information.
[Jace, Senior Management Engineer]
"Are management types even useful?" Truthfully, Damian preferred mechanical or electrical engineers.
[Reminder: Management personnel are more valuable than others. The train does not require passengers to participate in maintenance or manufacturing.]
In other words, mechanical engineers were actually less useful than management engineers.
"Fine, whatever. Take them—his family can have three spots. Hurry up." Damian had no fixed criteria; he operated on whim.
Finally, the passenger list was complete. The ship retrieved its robots and ascended into the crimson sky amid a chorus of curses.
...
In the cockpit, all screens went dark as Damian stretched lazily.
"How many robots are on this train?"
[Currently, there are 40,000 robots in total: 20,000 service robots to maintain order in the cabins, 10,000 engineering robots for factory production (all currently idle), 5,000 combat robots, and 5,000 mining robots. If needed, production can continue—provided resources are available.]
"Where are they produced?"
The system displayed a cross-section of the train.
[Level 1: Passenger deck with ten cabins, including the Conductor's private area.]
[Basement Level 1: Storage. All supplies and resources are temporarily kept here, along with factories and production lines.]
[Basement Level 2: Power core. Houses the train's energy supply and propulsion systems.]
[Basement Level 3: Defense layer. The most heavily fortified section, containing warships and combat robots. Currently, only ten escort-class warships are stored.]
The train currently had these four levels. Upgrades could add more levels or expand the number of cabins.
"What resources do I have now? What can I manufacture?"
[Host currently only possesses passengers and supplies transported from Purple Star. No additional manufacturing resources are available. The chosen starpath determines resource availability. Strengthening the train before reaching Glazed Continent is advised to mitigate threats from unknown factors.]
Damian: "How the hell am I supposed to pick a starpath without a star map?"
[The system comes preloaded with a star map. Does the host authorize its activation?]
"You had this all along and didn't say so sooner? Load it up, quick!"
Soon, a massive star chart materialized before Damian. With a touch, he could access basic information about any region—planets, nebulae, star systems... whether they had resources or habitable worlds. It wasn't exhaustive, but it provided a general overview.
"Three million light-years to Glazed Continent? Even at max speed, we can't exceed light speed. Are you sure I'll live long enough to get there?"
[The cosmos contains jump nodes. A million light-years can be crossed in an instant. Locating these nodes is key to our journey.]
[The host is advised to awaken supernatural abilities as soon as possible. Higher levels grant longer lifespans.]
"What are supernatural abilities? And what's this about levels?"
[Compared to starbeasts and celestial bodies, ordinary lifeforms are too weak. They must absorb hyper-energy to evolve.]
[Supernatural ranks: Sky-Stepper, Star-Treader, Star-Devourer, Star-Melder, Star-Swallower...]
"How long does a Sky-Stepper live?"
[Each Sky-Stepper tier adds a century to lifespan. Star-Treaders gain a millennium per tier, Star-Devourers ten millennia, and so on. Should you become the legendary God of the Void, immortality awaits.]
Damian grew intrigued and pressed further: "How strong is a Sky-Stepper?"
[The essence of supernatural evolution is physical enhancement and bloodline advancement. Sky-Steppers fortify their skin, muscles, blood, and even individual cells.]
[When you can traverse the void unprotected, you become a Star-Treader.]
[When you can consume stellar resources to strengthen yourself, you become a Star-Devourer.]
[When you can merge with planets, you become a Star-Melder.]
...
Damian's excitement surged. "How do I awaken?"
[The host must locate energy crystals. None have been detected in this star system.]
After this briefing, Damian took the elevator behind the cockpit down to Basement Level 1. A floating platform carried him on an inspection tour. His personal supplies were stacked below the cockpit, while the vast surrounding areas stood empty.
Beneath Cabin 1, Damian saw the massive robotics factory where all the robots were produced.
[Manufacturing robots requires resources. For advanced models, the host must acquire rare production manuals.]
Beneath Cabin 2 lay the spacecraft factory, and every subsequent cabin had its own specialized production facility. The sprawling spaces between factories served as storage for various supplies. With all production halted, the basement felt eerily silent, sending chills down Damian's spine.
"Let's head back. It's time to depart." Passing the storage area, Damian ordered service robots to move supplies upstairs and stock his living quarters. He was pleased to learn the robots could also cook.
"Upload all Purple Star's recipes to them."
[Recipes uploaded.]
After dinner, Damian lounged on a plush sofa and had the system display Purple Star's final moments via the train's cameras. The planet had swollen to its limit, its once-vibrant purple hue replaced by searing magma. All life had long perished.
Suddenly, like an overinflated balloon, Purple Star burst without a sound.
"So that's it? Feels anticlimactic—just a tiny ball popping before my eyes."
"Let's move out."
The power core hummed to life below.
"What starpath are the other trains taking?"
[Most chose Route 7.] Route 7 referred to the seventh primary direction toward Glazed Continent on the star map. The Purple Star system was offset by seven degrees.
"Which one are we taking?"
[Calculations complete. Route 18 best serves the host's interests.] An eighteen-degree deviation meant a longer journey but greater rewards.
"Then Route 18 it is. Let's go."
With that, Damian charted a course distinct from the other trains, plunging headlong into the boundless void.