The Terror Train

Chapter 10: The Poison Mist

Under Chris’s capable leadership， the team quickly selected members for specific roles. Ajex， James， and I， along with others who appeared skilled， were assigned as bodyguards. Meanwhile， the more delicate-looking individuals carried wooden sticks to scout ahead.

　　Panda， burdened with the vines， found himself strategically placed in the middle of the group—the safest position. His perpetual grin concealed a shrewdness that amused him. By carrying the vines， he ensured protection and avoided direct danger. What was a little inconvenience compared to facing treacherous mud pits or goblins?

　　“Who says an unassuming appearance means foolishness? These supposedly clever youngsters have much to learn，” Panda chuckled， secretly pleased with his cunning.

　　Chris remained oblivious to Panda’s subtle maneuvering. He focused on task assignments， and most people accepted their roles without protest. The group continued deeper into the unknown， following their plan to explore the area thoroughly.

　　Ethan， one of the scouts at the forefront， prodded the ground with a long stick made from whittled branches. If it sank into the mud， they’d know it was a bog; otherwise， solid ground lay ahead.

　　Ajex， armed with a short blade in his right hand and a meter-long， sharpened wooden staff in his left， guarded against any surprises. James stood by his side， ready to assist if needed.

　　Ethan muttered curses at Chris. The task had been assigned to him， and he couldn’t refuse in front of everyone.“Damn it， I’m starving…”

　　Henry， carrying a bundle of sticks， was part of the group responsible for marking areas with mud pits. They’d plant a stick whenever they encountered one， serving as a warning.

　　“Starving，” Henry grumbled，“and stuck dealing with this muck and toxic fog.”

　　The group hadn’t eaten for half a day， and hunger gnawed at them. Their anxiety grew; they knew time was running out.

　　Ajex pondered aloud，“If we become strong enough， we could hunt goblins for food. As for water， this marsh is so damp that finding a source shouldn’t be too difficult.”

　　Ethan’s eyes widened.“Hunt goblins? Ajex， are you out of your mind? After one goblin killed three of us， you think we can just hunt them down?”

　　But confident in her abilities， Fang Xinyi retorted，“Why not? We’re not defenseless. That last attack caught us off guard. With proper training and coordination， we could eliminate goblins without casualties.”

　　Henry glanced at her but kept his thoughts to himself.

　　Suddenly， Nickel， the observant youth， pointed ahead. A strange red-green mist enveloped the distant area—a mushroom-like cloud both eerie and beautiful.

　　“Let’s go check it out，” Fang Xinyi’s curiosity got the better of her.

　　Ajex warned，“Don’t get too close. Colored mist like that might be poisonous.”

　　Chris’s eyes widened.“Remember the name of this station? It’s called the Mist Marsh. That mist is definitely toxic.”

　　Another man， dressed in a wool sweater under a suit， explained，“It’s likely miasma—a poisonous vapor formed from decaying plants and animals. We should avoid it.”

　　Henry grinned，“Impressive knowledge! So， it’s called miasma? From a distance， it’s oddly beautiful.”

　　As they approached， they saw the eerie mist shrouding a mud pit. White bones emerged from the murky surface—victims swallowed by the marsh. Were the bones human or animal? No one could tell.

　　“Let’s steer clear，” Chris shouted.

　　The group hesitated， chilled by the sight of the white bones. They’d unknowingly inhaled the airborne particles， causing sneezes and coughs.

　　“What’s that stuff?” Chris wondered.

　　Ajex looked up. Dust-like particles floated from the sky， a colorful haze. They’d unwittingly inhaled these particles， triggering their reactions.

　　Ajex inadvertently inhaled a breath， feeling an itch in his throat. It was an improvement from the violent coughing and burning sensation caused by the dust at the“Goblin Nest” station. The fear of inhaling these particles had eased; they seemed uncomfortable but not overly harmful.

　　Yet Ajex remained wary of the colorful motes filling the air. They were everywhere， impossible to avoid entirely. Swallowing， he sighed， the irritation in his throat lessening. What was this place? Was it truly the world he once knew?

　　As the group skirted the red-green mushroom mist， they encountered their second goblin attack. Unlike the first ambush， this goblin didn’t hide. It lay in their path， rising when they approached， ready to strike.

　　This time， the group reacted more calmly. Ethan and the other scouts， who carried wooden sticks for probing， stepped back as planned when danger arose. Ajex， James， Fang Xinyi， Chris， Fiona， and others charged forward.

　　Armed with sharp curved knives， they felt emboldened by their numbers. No longer panicked like before， they faced the monster head-on. Ajex， gripping a meter-long， pointed wooden staff， led the charge.

　　Ajex’s choice intrigued the others. His makeshift spear seemed more effective than the short knives. Damascus blades were sharp， but their limited reach required getting dangerously close to the goblin. Ajex’s wooden staff offered an advantage.

　　As Ajex lunged， the goblin sidestepped his thrown knife with surprising agility. Undeterred， Ajex grabbed the sharpened wooden staff and swung horizontally. The longer weapon proved its worth， striking the goblin’s forehead. The creature staggered， emitting a muffled groan before collapsing.

　　Ajex’s calculated risk paid off. Meanwhile， Fang Xinyi， undaunted， hurled her knife with precision. Inspired by Ajex， she aimed like a trained professional， hitting the goblin squarely in the abdomen. The second throw missed， but Ajex’s staff followed up.

　　The goblin leaped， avoiding Fang Xinyi’s third knife， but couldn’t evade Ajex’s thrust. The pointed staff sank into its belly， effectively skewering it. The goblin roared， its last desperate attack flinging Ajex aside.

　　Ajex crashed heavily， feeling as if his body had come apart. The goblin’s final blow had drained its remaining strength. Blood oozed from its mouth， nose， and eyes. The creature twitched twice before collapsing.

　　Henry， watching Fang Xinyi’s accurate throws， handed her his knife. Protected within the group， he had no use for it. Fang Xinyi accepted the blade without a disdainful glance and launched her second knife.

　　Other hesitant members saw Fang Xinyi’s successful hit and breathed easier. The goblin was no longer a formidable threat. As Fang Xinyi’s third knife missed， Ajex’s staff found its mark.

　　The wooden staff， though less sharp than a Damascus blade， proved effective. The clash of forces drove the staff effortlessly into the goblin’s soft belly. The creature’s death throes produced a guttural roar， flinging Ajex aside.

　　With a heavy thud， Ajex grunted as he was flung aside， the goblin’s immense power making him feel as if his body had come undone.

　　The goblin， having unleashed its last terrifying strike， was now at the end of its tether. Blood oozed from its eyes， nose， mouth， and ears. It staggered， took two shaky steps， and then collapsed heavily to the ground.