...

"This is the Dragon City Dust Storm Observation Center. We’ve observed that ’Death Storm No. 5198’ has formed 76 kilometers due north of the ruins of Yumen City, with an initial diameter of nine kilometers, currently expanding rapidly."

"The storm is currently moving southwest, with a deviation of seven degrees, at a speed of two hundred seventy... two hundred ninety... speed has now broken three hundred kilometers per hour!"

"Personnel active in the vicinity of Yumen, please take immediate evasive action. We will provide real-time updates on the trajectory of Death Storm No. 5198."

"Oh damn, it’s definitely heading our way." Ya Qiaoxi twisted the throttle of her motorcycle and looked over at the convoy beside her — thanks to the presence of the White Tiger Mecha, two-thirds of the Hunters had joined this convoy. More than sixty heavily modified vehicles formed a hundred-meter-long dragon across the wasteland, with their deafening engine roars audible miles away... such grandeur hadn’t been seen in the Hexi Corridor for many years.

The others in the convoy clearly received the broadcast from the Dust Storm Observation Center as well. Several Hunters and mercenaries opened their windows to loudly discuss among themselves. Soon, the front of the convoy began to split, dividing into three smaller, equally sized convoys, heading in three different directions.

"They agreed to regroup at Sunfall Ridge, eighty kilometers ahead," Ya Qiaoxi said over the convoy’s communication channel.

"Let them regroup wherever they want. We just need to keep close to Nagano Souta," Sun Hang said, sitting in the passenger seat of the off-road vehicle.

The White Tiger Mecha didn’t directly move on the ground but was hooked to a high-powered tow truck — the energy to power the mecha was extremely precious and using it for travel would be quite wasteful.

"Good." After hearing the latest broadcast from the Dust Storm Observation Center, Candle Dragon nodded. "Storm 5198 has begun moving east, which is the planned route of convoy number three. Once the storm approaches close enough, convoy number three can split again and direct the storm towards the intact convoy number one."

"What if the storm doesn’t head for convoy number one?" Ya Qiaoxi leaned forward, her chest nearly pressed against the motorcycle’s fuel tank. "Convoy number one has the fewest people among the three. I feel like our current squad’s combined vitality might even surpass theirs."

"Then we’ll just split again," Candle Dragon responded. "With Nagano Souta present, the planning and dispatch for convoy number two is the least of our worries." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Here’s hoping..." Ya Qiaoxi sighed. "For some reason, I have an uneasy feeling."

...

Convoy number two, northeast direction 13 kilometers, convoy number three.

In contrast to the grand convoy of over sixty vehicles and a heavy mythical beast mecha, several medium and light tactical mechas stationed in convoy number two, convoy number three appeared a bit shabby — this convoy barely had twenty vehicles, plus one high-mobility light armor and more than a dozen drones. In terms of combat strength on paper, it was less than half of convoy two.

"Damn it, how did 5198 find us so quickly?" At the front, inside a truck equipped with a heavy shovel for road clearing, a mercenary with a face full of scars spat out the window. "With just a few of us, can we really attract the Death Storm here?"

"I estimate convoy number two has already split," the mercenary driving next to him frowned. "When the observation station last reported the storm’s location, it was just under five kilometers from convoy number two. According to the prior agreement, it’s normal for them to choose to split there."

"Even if convoy number two split, the storm should head toward convoy number one instead. We’ve got hardly any people here, and more than half are mercenaries, there aren’t even many Hunters." The scar-faced mercenary reached out the window, slapping the door in frustration. "With this few people, our combat efficiency is already low. And now we have to divide forces? Damn it, whose idea was this tactic anyway?"

"Stop complaining," the driving mercenary took a big swig of West Kun Special Drink. "Keep an eye on the broadcast. Alert me to fire the signal flare once 5198 is within five kilometers."

"I’ve got it, I’ve got it," the scar-faced mercenary waved his hand impatiently.

"This is the Dragon City Dust Storm Observation Center. Latest observations indicate Death Storm No. 5198’s speed has suddenly accelerated, currently surpassing four hundred kilometers per hour, and is expected to break five hundred kilometers per hour within five minutes."

"Holy shit!" The scar-faced mercenary shuddered. "Hurry, signal now!"

"It’s not time yet!" The driving mercenary shook his head. "Five kilometers! Wait till it’s five kilometers then fire the split signal!"

"Screw the five kilometers! Didn’t you hear the storm accelerating? With this speed, the five-kilometer distance barely leaves the convoy a minute to react! Do you want to get us all killed?" the scar-faced mercenary exclaimed. "If it were the other two convoys, they definitely wouldn’t wait until it’s within five kilometers to split!"

The driving mercenary showed a hint of hesitation on his face, but at that moment, the scar-faced mercenary reached over the control board and pressed the button to fire the signal flare.

With a howl, three green signal flares launched from the truck’s roof-mounted launch tube, exploding mid-air with a boom.