Location: North Station - Platform 9 (Abandoned)]
[Time: 11:00 PM]
[Temperature: -10°C]
The wind howled like a dying wolf. Snowflakes drifted down from the black sky, covering the rusty train tracks in a blanket of white.
Ryan stood on the platform, shivering slightly in his hoodie.
"Note to self," Ryan muttered, rubbing his hands. "Buy a heated jacket next time."
Behind him, his team was bundled up.
Grog was wearing huge wool pants (finally) and a scarf the size of a blanket.
Felix was wrapped in three coats and was still shaking.
Annabelle didn't feel cold (being a doll), but she wore a tiny beanie hat because "it looked cute".
Violet (The Poison Healer) was mixing a chemical hand-warmer in a flask.
"Boss," Grog sniffed. "Are we taking the bus?"
"No," Ryan pointed down the tracks. "We are taking the midnight express."
According to the Dark Web, the only way to reach Zone Z (City of the Dead) without being stopped by the military blockade was to take the "Phantom Train". It appeared once a month at midnight.
Price of ticket: One Human Soul.
CHOO-CHOO!
A piercing whistle shattered the silence.
From the fog, a massive, black steam engine emerged. It didn't make a sound on the tracks. It floated slightly above them. Green fire burned in its furnace.
The windows were dark, but shadowy figures could be seen moving inside.
The train screeched to a halt. The doors hissed open.
A Conductor stepped out. He was a skeleton in a uniform.
"Tickets... please..." his voice rattled.
Ryan stepped forward.
"Five tickets to the Necropolis, please."
"Price... is... 5 Souls..." The Conductor extended a bony hand.
Felix panicked. "Souls?! I'm using mine!"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Relax."
He opened his Inventory.
He pulled out a jar. Inside were 5 glowing blue orbs.
These were the Souls of the Assassins (Shadow Hand Guild) he had defeated back in Chapter 25. He hadn't turned them into soldiers because they were too weak.
"Here," Ryan tossed the jar. "Keep the change."
The Conductor sniffed the jar. "Fresh... murderers... Delicious. Welcome aboard."
Ryan and his team stepped onto the train.
Inside the Train - Economy Class.
The interior looked like a luxury carriage from the 1920s... if it hadn't been cleaned for 100 years.
Spiderwebs covered the chandeliers. The seats were torn velvet.
And the passengers...
Across from them sat a Headless Woman knitting a scarf.
In the corner, a group of Ghouls were playing poker with human fingers.
A Vampire was sipping a blood-bag like a juice box.
Ryan set up his camera drone.
[Stream Started: "Riding the Ghost Train! (Don't try this at home)"]
[Viewers: 300,000+]
"Hey guys," Ryan whispered. "We are currently in First Class. The service is dead, literally. But the legroom is great."
User_Slayer69: "Is that a Vampire?! Ryan, ask him if he sparkles!"
User_RichKid: "This is insane. You are riding with monsters!"
Grog tried to squeeze into a seat. CRUNCH. The seat broke.
"Sorry..." Grog whispered.
Suddenly, the door to the next carriage opened.
Three large Ogres walked in. They wore leather jackets and carried spiked bats. They were the train bullies.
They looked at Ryan's team.
"Human smell," the Lead Ogre grunted. He walked over to Ryan.
"Hey, little meat. This is our seat."
Ryan looked up from his phone. "Really? I don't see your name on it."
The Ogre smashed his bat on the table.
"I said move. Or I eat you."
Ryan sighed. He looked at the camera.
"Chat, why does this always happen? I just want a peaceful ride."
He looked at the Ogre.
"System, Scan."
[Enemy: Train Thug Ogre (Level 18)]
[Weakness: Bright Light (They live underground).]
Ryan smiled.
"Hey, big guy. Do you want to see a magic trick?"
The Ogre blinked. "Magic?"
"Yeah. It's called..." Ryan pulled the pin on a Flashbang. "...The Sun."
"Close your eyes, team!" Ryan shouted.
BANG!
A blinding white light exploded in the carriage.
"AAARGH! MY EYES!"
The Ogres screamed, clutching their faces. They were blinded.
"Grog! Bob! Throw them out!"
Grog grabbed the Lead Ogre by the neck. "You ruin Grog's nap!"
YEET.
Grog threw the Ogre through the window.
SMASH!
The Ogre flew out of the moving train into the snowy wasteland.
Bob (Shadow Butcher) grabbed the other two Ogres and tossed them out the door.
Ryan sat back down as the flash faded. The other monster passengers stared at him in shock.
The Vampire stopped drinking. The Ghouls stopped playing poker.
Ryan dusted off his hands.
"Anyone else want this seat?"
Silence.
Even the Headless Woman shook her head (which was on her lap).
"Good," Ryan smiled. "Conductor! Can I get some coffee?"
[System Notification: You have asserted dominance on the Ghost Train.]
[Fear Points: +2,000]
[Reputation: 'The Crazy Human' established.]
Suddenly, the train shook violently.
The lights flickered and died.
Red emergency lights turned on.
"ATTENTION PASSENGERS," The Conductor's voice boomed over the speakers. "WE ARE APPROACHING THE 'TUNNEL OF SCREAMS'. PLEASE HOLD ON TO YOUR SOULS. SOMETHING... IS ON THE ROOF."
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the roof of the train. Something massive was running above them.
Ryan looked up.
[System Warning: Boss Monster Detected.]
[Enemy: The Tunnel Crawler (Level 25).]
Ryan grabbed his Pandora watch.
"Looks like the ride is getting bumpy. Annabelle, go check the roof
."
Annabelle grinned, her knife gleaming in the red light.
"Can I push him off, Papa?"
"Please do."