As the voice faded, a semi-transparent white panel slowly materialized before Chen Mang, displaying the same words. The voice hadn't come from his ears, but from deep within his mind.
A moment later, the panel dissolved, and several lines of text began scrolling across the screen next to the control console.
"Stellar Power Value, Under Comprehensive Evaluation"
"Current Train Level: 2. Base Value: 100 points. Survivors Aboard: 112. +112 points. High-Grade Red Accessories: 2. +200 points. Total Accessory Level: 84. +840 points. Advanced Effects Unlocked: 9. +90 points."
"Comprehensive Score: 1342 points."
"Regional Power Value Leaderboard now active. Detecting Stellar is in a low-level region. Displaying regional leaderboard only."
"Loan Quota: 5,000 units of Iron Ore.. Must be repaid, doubled, within three months."
A strange look crossed Chen Mang's face as he read the scrolling information. It was worth noting that one of the requirements for upgrading a Level 2 train to Level 3 was a combined accessory level of over 40.
His total of 84 was already far beyond that threshold.He had calculated that after reaching Level 2, the craftable accessories were mostly green and white grade. There were no higher-tier yellow or blue accessories available yet.
The level cap for most white-grade accessories was 2, and for green-grade, it was 3.
Furthermore, for accessories like "Armor" and "Heavy Machine Guns," no matter how many you built, only the highest-level one counted toward the total level sum.
In other words, without finding other accessory blueprints through chance encounters, the maximum combined level for all craftable accessories was 58.
That was enough to meet one of the conditions for upgrading to a Level 3 train—the standard for a fully-equipped Level 2 train. Most captains would upgrade all the important accessories to their max level while saving resources on less crucial ones like the "Single Bed."
After the comprehensive power value evaluation was complete, the regional leaderboard appeared on screen.
"Ironridge Wasteland Power Value Leaderboard"
Rank 1: The Survivor, Level 3 Train, Power Value 2989
...
Rank 47: The Stellar, Level 2 Train, Power Value 1342
...
Rank 77: The Electro-King, Level 2 Train, Power Value 666
...
Rank 89: The Bloodthirsty Bull, Level 2 Train, Power Value 589
Chen Mang's lips curled into a slight smile as he looked at the rankings. After their previous chat, he knew that the train that had blasted DJ music and arrogantly sped past him a few days ago was the "Electro-King."
The dwarf's train.
It seemed his train was already more developed than theirs. His power value was nearly double.
Of course, the other captain didn't know his identity or that they had crossed paths before, and Chen Mang had no intention of pointing it out.
His ranking was quite good at 47th. He had thought of himself as a small fry, but it turned out his train was already considered well-developed in the Ironridge Wasteland.
The gaps at the top of the leaderboard were large, but they grew smaller further down the rankings.
From the leaderboard, he also learned that there were a total of 12 Level 3 trains in the Ironridge Wasteland. The lowest-ranked Level 3 train had a power value of 1679.
He had no plans to upgrade to Level 3 for now. He wanted to build a fully-equipped Level 2 train first. The resource cost for a Level 3 upgrade was too high. Generally, people only upgraded when they had exhausted the potential of a Level 2 train and needed new ways to improve.
Those other captains didn't have his ability to infinitely upgrade accessories. They couldn't possibly score as high as him in the accessory level category.
So it was safe to assume that their high power values were mostly padded by the number of slaves they had. Having a large number of slaves was, in itself, a reflection of strength.
Except for Boss Kun, of course.
The more he learned about this world, the more he realized how incongruous Boss Kun's train's firepower was with his three hundred slaves. They were on completely different levels.
As for the 5,000-unit iron ore loan, Chen Mang scoffed, not even bothering to look at it again. The amount was too small. Even if he took it, it would be meaningless. He was currently mining an average of ten thousand units of iron ore a day. What did he need 5,000 for?
What he needed now was time.
As long as he had enough time and no accidents, allowing him to completely excavate the two mines at the bottom of the Apocalypse Abyss, he wouldn't be short on resources for a long time.
"Keep it up..."
Chen Mang took a deep breath and looked at the Train Radio, where new messages were constantly popping up. Everyone was discussing this new development, especially what "the first phase is about to officially begin" meant.
What would happen after the first phase began? What changes would it bring?
These were the questions on everyone's mind.
He also knew that the "Ironridge Wasteland" was a low-level region. The characteristic of a low-level region was fewer resources, but also fewer and weaker monsters, allowing for relatively safe and stable development.
For example, on the wasteland, as long as you weren't surrounded by a zombie horde before you could react, you could usually escape any monster encounter. After all, it was a train. Even a Level 1 train's base speed was enough to outrun many monsters.
Overall, it was relatively safe.
High-level regions, on the other hand, were full of diverse dangers—not just from monsters, but also from "chance encounters" and even "train specialization."
Yes, train specialization.
A strange look crossed Chen Mang's face as he looked at a captain chatting on the Train Radio. It was a Level 3 train captain. He had never seen someone of this level chatting in the group before. This new development had drawn him out, and a crowd of people had swarmed him, hoping he would reveal information they didn't know.
And this captain was kind enough to share.
High-level trains couldn't enter low-level regions. For example, this region could only accommodate up to Level 3 trains—a Level 4 train couldn't enter.
The apocalypse had been going on for a long time. Not everyone had just gotten their Train Token in the last few months.
Those who had gotten a token right at the beginning of the apocalypse and happened to be in a well-organized group with no shortage of manpower could have developed for a full year. It was hard to imagine what level they would have reached. If a train of that caliber came to the Ironridge Wasteland to plunder slaves, no one could stop them.
In other words, the "Ironridge Wasteland," with its cap of Level 3 trains, was a starter zone.