The Supermodel Effect is None.
Chen Mang thoughtfully gazed at the Level 5 Supermodel Effect. He had been upgrading his accessories to Level 5 first, fearing such a situation. If the Level 5 Supermodel Effect was None, then the Level 10 Supermodel Effect would undoubtedly be the same.
However, this also answered a question that had been lingering in his mind.
He possessed the Level 0 authority of "Infinite Upgrade," which allowed him to continuously upgrade his accessories, such as "Armor" and "Pickaxe Production Line," to Level 5 and even Level 10.
But other Train Conductors didn't have this ability.
So, what would they do?
When a train reached Level 4, how would they face Level 4 monsters without Level 4 Armor? How would they mine higher-level resource ores without Level 4 Pickaxes?
Now, he had the answer.
When a train reached Level 4, higher-quality accessories would likely become available to replace the lower-quality ones currently in use. Therefore, it made sense that the Level 5 "Fabrication Table" had no Supermodel Effect. After all, the only effect of upgrading the Fabrication Table was the ability to produce higher-level Energy Stones.
Chen Mang shifted his gaze from the "Fabrication Table" to the two ammunition production lines.
The "5.56mm Rifle Ammunition Production Line" and the "12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Ammunition Production Line."
After consuming nearly 20,000 units of copper ore, he upgraded both accessories to Level 10.
They each gained four Supermodel Effects.
"5.56mm Rifle Ammunition Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect": When producing bullets, the bullets can be imbued with fire, which is highly effective against wood-attribute monsters. The price remains unchanged.
"5.56mm Rifle Ammunition Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect": When producing bullets, the bullets can be imbued with ice, which is highly effective against fire-attribute monsters. The price remains unchanged.
"12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Ammunition Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect": When producing bullets, the bullets can split into three mid-air while maintaining their original power. The price remains unchanged.
"12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Ammunition Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect": When producing bullets, the bullets can penetrate armor, making them highly effective against heavily armored monsters. The price remains unchanged.
"Whew."
Chen Mang took a deep breath as he sat in front of the control panel. These Supermodel Effects were undeniably powerful. Without increasing the cost, they significantly enhanced the destructive capabilities of his weapons.
At this point, almost all the accessories in the Stellar Train had been upgraded, each with its own Supermodel Effect. Now, it was time to upgrade the train itself.
He looked at the conditions required to upgrade the train to Level 3.
"Upgrade Conditions": The train must have 10 carriages, six essential vehicle components must be completed, 5,000 units of Level 2 Iron Ore must be consumed, and the total level of all accessories in the train must exceed 40.
All conditions were met, and some were even exceeded.
Without further delay—
The next moment, as 50,000 units of iron ore disappeared from the train, a white light flashed across the control panel, and a semi-transparent screen appeared in front of him.
"Your Train Has Reached Level 3."
"More craftable accessories and additional personalized and practical functions have been unlocked."
Chen Mang looked at the train panel with anticipation.
"Train Name": Stellar.
"Train Level": 3.
"Train Accessories": Level 10 Car Blade, Level 13 Spider Leg, Level 10 Car Audio, Level 10...
"Number of Carriages": 10.
"Ore Units": 78,000 units of Iron Ore, 0 units of Wood, 112,000 units of Copper Ore.
"Inheritance Value": 0.
"Upgrade Conditions": The train must have 18 carriages, four essential vehicle components must be completed, 10,000 units of Level 2 Iron Ore must be consumed, and the total level of all accessories in the train must exceed 80.
"PS": Before upgrading to Level 4, the train must undergo a class change. The available options are Mechanical Train and Flesh Train. Both options have their corresponding tasks, which must be completed to successfully change the train's class.
Finally, the train had reached Level 3.
The exterior of the Stellar Train remained unchanged. Upgrading the train didn't enhance its combat power but increased its base speed and unlocked more craftable accessories and functions.
For example.
The base speed of a Level 2 train was 130 km/h. After upgrading to Level 3, the base speed increased to 160 km/h. This was a marginal improvement.
Additionally, nine more craftable accessories were unlocked.
Among them, four vehicle components were mandatory. To upgrade to Level 4, these four components had to be crafted first. The remaining five craftable accessories were optional, though—
For most people, these optional accessories were essentially mandatory.
After all, without crafting these optional accessories, it would be impossible to meet the total accessory level required for the train's upgrade.
Unless one had other means to obtain accessory blueprints.
Furthermore—
The most noticeable change was the addition of the "Inheritance Value" on the train panel. His Inheritance Value was currently 0. With a sufficiently high Inheritance Value, he could trigger more Fortuitous Encounters in advanced regions.
There were only a few sources for obtaining Inheritance Value.
For example, taking in children under the age of 12 into the train, or using the "Doomsday Marriage Certificate" to host a doomsday wedding for the survivors in the train.
The former proved that even in the apocalypse, some were willing to consider the continuation of humanity.
The latter proved that even in the apocalypse, true love still existed in a world where morality had collapsed.
However.
So far, he hadn't encountered a single child, let alone one under 12. Even teenagers aged 15 or 16 were nowhere to be seen. Pessimistically, in the harsh environment of the apocalypse, it was likely that such individuals had a hard time surviving past the first year.
As for the Doomsday Marriage Certificate, he hadn't found anyone to use it on yet.
But there was no rush. Even with an "Inheritance Value," it would only be effective in advanced regions, and he didn't plan to venture there anytime soon.
As he looked at the nine craftable vehicle components, he finally figured out how to repair damaged train accessories.
"Mechanical Nanite Spider": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Combat Training Virtual Space": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Internal Space Stabilizer": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Individual Exoskeleton Production Line": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
These four accessories were mandatory and essential for upgrading the train to Level 4.
"..."
Chen Mang's eyes flashed with intrigue. These four craftable accessories were all quite powerful!
The first, the Nanite Spider, was used to repair damaged accessories. Before this accessory, all damaged accessories were irreparable and had to be used as-is. If they became unusable, one had to craft a new one.
Its appearance was a bit late, only becoming available at Level 3.
But this made sense.
After all, most Level 1 and 2 trains didn't have expensive accessories. If one broke, it wasn't a big deal to craft a new one. Unlike him, whose accessories were all high-level. If one broke, replacing it would bankrupt even someone with ample resources.
The second and fourth accessories.
Both were designed to enhance individual combat capabilities.
The former improved combat skills, while the latter was an Individual Exoskeleton Armor, further enhancing individual combat abilities.
He read the description of the latter.
It wasn't heavy armor, nor was it a mech.
It was more like a simplified version of a steel exoskeleton that fit snugly on the body, enhancing overall physical capabilities. It didn't provide defense, couldn't withstand bullets, nor could it endure monster attacks.
It was worn under clothes, making it invisible from the outside.
However.
"..."
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes slightly. He had always felt that enhancing individual combat capabilities was a pseudo-need, as the train usually handled most of the combat. But after reaching Level 3.
Two accessories designed to enhance individual combat capabilities appeared.
And both were among the craftable accessories.
As the saying goes.
Before Pangu created the heavens, there was nothing. Only after Pangu created the heavens did the world have meaning.
This was a natural law.
In other words—
During the transition from Level 3 to Level 4, there must be a stage where the train's individual combat capabilities would be severely tested. This test might be part of the class change task or something else.
Otherwise, the appearance of these two accessories would be meaningless.
As for the last mandatory accessory.
The "Internal Space Stabilizer."
His Slaves would likely appreciate this accessory.
It ensured that no matter how the train moved—whether climbing vertically up walls, floating like a falling leaf in the air, or spiraling vertically upward—the interior space would remain stable and level.
No longer would the Slaves in the Slave Carriage be stacked like sardines when the train climbed walls.
"Not bad."
These four accessories significantly enhanced the train's capabilities. He then looked at the other five non-mandatory craftable accessories.
"Central Air Conditioning": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Storage Box": Green-tier accessory, requires 500 units of Wood to craft.
"Permanent Shock Absorption": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Medical Bay": Yellow-tier accessory, requires 1,000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
"Unknown Component": Unknown-tier accessory, requires 1 unit of Iron Ore to craft. After the train undergoes a class change, it will automatically transform into a heavy firepower external accessory corresponding to the chosen class.
The effect of the first accessory was obvious. With winter approaching, this accessory would maintain a comfortable temperature inside the train, preventing his Slaves from freezing to death. It also had a fresh air function, significantly improving the train's air quality.
The second accessory, the Storage Box, could store up to 1,000 units of the same resource.
For example, 1,000 units of Iron Ore.
Whether it was Level 1 or Level 2 Iron Ore, it didn't matter. This would free up a lot of space, though he still felt the Level 10 Refrigerator was more useful.
The third accessory, "Permanent Shock Absorption," was a defensive accessory.
When the train's external defensive accessories, such as "Armor," remained intact, it could effectively neutralize the impact of monster collisions.
The fourth accessory, the Medical Bay, could heal most external injuries when one lay inside. He had the Level 10 "Simple First Aid Kit" as a substitute, which was even more effective.
The fifth accessory.
This was the cheapest accessory he had ever seen, requiring only 1 unit of Iron Ore to craft. However, it couldn't be crafted yet. It would only become available after the train underwent a class change.
If the train became a "Mechanical Train," it would gain a heavy firepower external accessory corresponding to that class.
The same applied if it became a "Flesh Train."
These nine craftable accessories were the most significant changes after the Stellar Train reached Level 3.
It was worth noting—
From Level 1 with 17 craftable accessories, Level 2 with 12, to Level 3 with 9, the number of craftable accessories decreased as the train leveled up.
Many basic accessories, such as the "Telescope," were no longer available.
Other subtle changes were hidden in the control panel and train panel, not as immediately apparent as the panel's display, requiring him to explore them himself.
For example, the "Personalized Customization Carriage" feature, introduced in Level 2, now had a new function.
The carriage equipped with the "40-Tube Cherry Blossom Rocket Launcher" was originally an open-air carriage, with open sides and a roofless top. The downside was that the accessories were prone to damage due to the lack of external armor protection.
After reaching Level 3, a more advanced version of the open-air carriage could be crafted.
The open-air carriage now had enclosed sides, with the rocket launcher hidden inside. When needed, the roof armor would retract into the carriage, and a lift platform would raise the firepower equipment, allowing it to roar and fire in a blaze of glory.
A highly practical function.
The price wasn't high. Upgrading one open-air carriage to the advanced version only required 1,000 units of Iron Ore. He had two carriages, so upgrading both would cost 2,000 units of Iron Ore.
The additional "Armor" on the roof of the open-air carriage didn't require extra Iron Ore.
It had already been consumed during previous armor upgrades.
Furthermore—
The train control panel now had three additional buttons.
"Family Planning."
"Immediate Self-Destruct."
"Immediate Ejection."
Pressing the first button would release a spray in the carriage, preventing all members from becoming pregnant, except for creatures in the "Breeding Carriage."
He immediately pressed this button.
For now, he didn't want anyone on the train to get pregnant.
The second button was straightforward. Pressing it would cause the train to self-destruct, unleashing massive destructive power.
"..."
Chen Mang looked at this button, his lips twitching slightly. If he accidentally pressed it one day, he'd be sent straight to the afterlife. But the next moment, a transparent plastic cover appeared around the button, enclosing it.
The plastic cover had a fingerprint recognition feature.
Only he could open it. If anyone else tried to force it open, the "Train Auxiliary AI" would activate the "Internal Fire Control System," instantly locking onto the intruder and opening fire.
Moreover, even after pressing the button, a confirmation prompt would appear on the control panel screen, requiring a second confirmation before the self-destruct sequence would initiate.
This made it much safer.
After all.
It was highly unlikely that someone would accidentally open the plastic cover, accidentally press the button, and then accidentally confirm it on the screen.
If someone were that careless.
Then it was only natural that Yama, the King of Hell, might accidentally scratch their name off the Book of Life and Death.
(End of Chapter)