The truck that kidnapped Neo drove with a thunderous engine roar.
It wasn't an ordinary truck. The front was modified from an armored vehicle, and the trailer that followed was also used for military purposes. The massive 16-wheel tires clearly demonstrated this beast's power.
With its enormous body, matching output, and overwhelming durability, the truck could rightfully be called a fortress.
Motorcycles and Humvee vehicles escorting the truck followed in a line.
'These guys are thoroughly prepared. They haven't just been waiting for a day or two.'
Osian pursued them, analyzing their strength. They didn't recklessly charge at Neo as soon as they found him. Rather, they quietly waited for an opportunity, targeting when Neo was separated from his companions and alone.
Even the vehicles they drove were extraordinary. They were all military-grade and well-maintained with the latest equipment, showing that money wasn't spared.
If a place could invest that much money, it meant they were at least a squad sent from a large corporation. Major corporations in Tirna could freely command private soldiers under them.
'I heard they failed recently, so is this from another side? Whatever the case, rescuing Neo is the priority.'
The Starlight Warhorse galloped. Powerful hoofbeats echoed as a hazy cloud of sand dust rose behind Osian.There was a change in the formation of Neo's kidnappers. Some of the motorcycles that had been moving with the vehicles detached from the convoy, slowing down and approaching Osian.
Off-road motorcycles designed for fast travel across the desert.
-Vrooom!
Even from the unpleasant noise coming from those small machines, one could sense their extraordinary power.
They wore suits and helmets mixed with black and gray colors. Gradually slowing down, they arrived beside Osian and ran alongside him.
'They're trying to separate me from here, is that it?'
Of course, there was no need to explain verbally how they planned to separate him.
Click. The riders on both sides drew their pistols. Osian saw the world flowing slowly.
The slowly drawn guns all aimed at his vital points. Just as they were about to pull the triggers, Osian spurred the Starlight Warhorse.
-Neeeeiiiigh!
The warhorse leaped high with a powerful push. The bullets fired afterward had to cut through empty air.
The warhorse, jumping as if flying through the sky, fell onto one of the bikes. The rider urgently tried to change direction, but it was useless.
-Crash!
The motorcycle was crushed, and the rider was also flung away. The broken motorcycle and rider rolled on the ground, getting further away.
-Snort!
The Starlight Warhorse exhaled a rough breath and cast a sharp gaze, looking for the next target. It tried to move toward the next target, but the opponents were not easy either.
The riders began to scatter. When the Starlight Warhorse tried to approach, they deliberately widened the distance. It was the unique agile maneuver possible only with high-performance bikes.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets flew from a distance. Shooting a gun with one hand while riding a motorcycle requires extreme shooting skills. No matter how much training one has, it's difficult to achieve proper accuracy at this speed.
But if there are many of them, it's a different story. Even meaningless shots can be effective when multiple shooters form a firing network. They weren't ordinary pistols either, so their lethality was sufficient.
"This is annoying."
Osian read their intentions clearly. Having realized through the first engagement that suppression was impossible, they were trying to hold him back and buy time. But that wasn't why Osian felt annoyed.
"It seems they've underestimated us quite a bit."
To think they could stop him with just those kinds of guys.
The sun rose. District 49, which had been navy blue, regained its original color. The mutants that had been wandering in search of food disappeared.
Multiple vehicles raced across the sand that was gradually beginning to heat up.
Their goal was one. To reach the exit point of District 49 by the designated time.
According to the plan, they would arrive with plenty of time to spare. But plans never go as intended.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fireworks exploded in the distance. The corporation's people turned their heads. Red smoke lingered in the air like a smoke screen.
[It's Sullivan's Sons. They've figured out our location.]
-Boom! Boom!
Smoke exploded from another direction. The color of the smoke lingering in the air was black. Even the Oil Fingers had caught up.
Yellow smoke exploded from a bit further away. That was Mining Heavy Industries.
Due to the commotion they caused while moving through the junkyard, they had attracted the attention of all the gangs in District 49.
Beyond the atmosphere that was starting to distort, filled with the sun's heat. The silhouettes of all kinds of modified vehicles began to appear.
-Vroom! Vrooom!
"Yeehaw! I see those bastards over there!"
"Catch them all! Catch them and beat them up!"
"Don't let those who entered our zone and took our treasures escape!"
The distinctively styled gang members on the vehicles all spewed madness and anger. To them, outsiders, especially well-dressed corporate people, were objects of hatred.
Abandoning this place and using it as a dump whenever they wanted, and then secretly coming to steal when they needed something? Even though they were gangs without principles or beliefs, they at least had pride.
"Drive! Kill them even if it costs our lives!"
Growing up in a harsh environment made them show no boundaries when angered. The vehicle engines overheated more than usual, emitting rough exhaust sounds.
Sullivan's Sons on the rear left. Oil Fingers on the rear right. And Mining Heavy Industries completely at the rear.
Normally, they would have cursed and shot at each other immediately upon meeting, but they formed a united alliance in front of common enemies.
[Annoying bastards. Team Bravo, Charlie. Move.]
[Yes, sir.]
As soon as the radio communication ended, the corporation's vehicles began to spread out. SUVs, pickup trucks, and quad bikes escorting them did the same.
"Boss! It looks like those bastards are ready for a fight!"
"Hahaha! They've lost their minds! But welcome! It would be boring if they just ran away!"
The gang started shooting. Their modified guns shot not only bullets but also sharp metal fragments.
-Ping! Ping! Ping!
However, the off-road SUV didn't budge. Then the curtain of one pickup truck was lifted, revealing a weapon.
It was a Gatling gun, made by combining multiple barrels into a cylinder.
-Ratatatatatatata!
Bullets fired at an incredible rate per minute engulfed the gang. The gang members who unknowingly stood at the front fell, spewing blood. The front vehicles instantly became riddled with holes like beehives. The attack didn't stop there. Another agent took out an RPG and fired it.
-Boom!
With a spectacular explosion, another vehicle flipped over.
"These crazy bastards!"
"Kill them!"
But the District 49 gangs didn't cower even after seeing that. Instead, they burned with fighting spirit. For them, death was always close. They didn't want to die, but being looked down upon in a place like this was worse than death. That's how they had lived.
-Ratatatatata!
A machine gun fired, targeting the agents. But the agents sneered and ignored it. The aim wasn't right, and the flying bullets couldn't penetrate their suits.
"Die!"
One of the Oil Fingers' vehicles accelerated rapidly. There were sharp additional fixtures on the vehicle's hood. It was for this exact purpose.
-Crash!
The sharp teeth rammed into the side of the pickup truck. The side of the pickup truck was torn long, and the body shook greatly.
But this wasn't an ordinary vehicle either, so it didn't flip over or stop.
[What?]
-Ratatatatatatata!
The gunner firing the Gatling turned and mowed down the vehicle that had rammed the side. Glass shattered, and red blood splattered inside.
[How stupid. Trying to flip this truck with such a cheap method...]
The Gatling gunner belatedly noticed the lighter in the driver's hand and the oil already filled in the vehicle.
-Thud.
The lighter fell from the lifeless hand.
-Boom!
With an explosion, red flames engulfed the pickup truck.
The agents who were firing at other vehicles from the truck's cargo bed couldn't withstand the impact and were thrown out.
"Philip!"
"Damn it! Philip! You were a great guy!"
The gang members shouted their dead comrade's name and didn't spare their praise. Even the professionals coldly carrying out their mission felt chilled by the sight.
[Take out the oil-filled vehicles first!]
Another pickup truck targeted the most dangerous vehicles first with the Gatling. But the gangs didn't just take it. They skillfully rotated their vehicles, changing their formation.
The vehicle that had rushed to the front retreated, and what appeared instead was a large truck. It was the battle truck that Sullivan's Sons boasted.
The battle truck with all kinds of exterior modifications blew a fierce horn and rammed straight into the pickup truck shooting the Gatling.
-Crash!
The body flipped over. Unable to overcome inertia, the pickup truck rotated more than 5 times. Each time, broken vehicle parts, weapons, and gunpowder scattered in all directions.
[Damn! What the hell is that!]
This heavily modified battle truck was nothing short of a moving fortress. And on top of the battle truck were Sullivan's gang members.
"Kill them all!"
From atop the truck, they fired indiscriminately at the passing SUVs. Some threw grenades, and others sprayed toxic chemicals but the corporate vehicles counterattacked.
The individual skill difference was overwhelmingly in favor of the corporation. Their equipment was different from the start. The suits they wore had excellent bulletproof functions. Even the performance of their weapons was far superior.
But while the District 49 gangs might have been inferior in individual skill, they had superior numbers. Above all, they knew no fear. Their madness, rushing in with wide eyes even in such situations, was their greatest weapon.
"Board them!"
The gang members on top of the truck jumped onto the SUV. Some were shot and fell, but others weren't.
They entered the vehicle through the breached roof.
[Die!]
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
An agent sitting in the back seat quickly drew a pistol and put bullets in the gang member's abdomen.
"Kihihihi!"
The gang member laughed even as blood flowed from his mouth. And he spread his hands wide, showing the pin of a grenade he had already pulled.
[Damn...]
-Boom!
With an explosion, the vehicle flipped over. Teams Bravo and Charlie urgently radioed.
[The resistance is too fierce. If we continue like this, we'll be held back.]
A radio message came from the vehicle that confirmed this.
[Team Alpha will step in.]
Some of the vehicles moving at the front reduced their speed and joined the battle.
"New ones are coming!"
"Burn them all!"
From atop an Oil Fingers vehicle, a flamethrower poured out. Sticky flames combined with chemicals covered the vehicle like lava. At that moment, mana was released from the vehicle with an intense wave.
-Woong!
Bluish mana easily tore through the flames. Soon after, the roof of the vehicle opened, and a person emerged. His attire was the same as the other agents, but the mana flowing from his body was different.
As the magician stretched out his hand, a brilliant explosion occurred in midair.
"It's a magician!"
Not just any magician, but at least a 4-star level magician. With that kind of firepower from just one individual, gangs like these could easily be wiped out.
"Kill him before he casts magic!"
A gang member with manifested mutant genes jumped high while removing the gas mask on his face. Half beast, half human, he resembled an amphibian with large protruding eyeballs.
His hand, like a suction pad, stuck to the vehicle, and a long pink lump of flesh shot out from his mouth.
-Whack!
But his strike was futilely blocked by a mana barrier.
-Bzzzzt!
Lightning shot from the magician enveloped the mutant gang member. Even sturdy flesh couldn't withstand the power of magically created lightning.
The magician spread his arms and scattered magic in all directions. That alone was enough to make the gang members taste hell.
[This should be enough to clean things up. How are the mobile units that withdrew to block the pursuers at the rear?]
[I'll contact them now.]
The subordinate sitting in the passenger seat soon spoke with a bewildered voice.
[This is strange. I sent a signal, but no one is answering. All signals are lost.]
[What?]
That can't be right. The mobile unit was deployed to stop just one person. But there's no news from the ones sent.
[Could it be...]
-Neeeeiiiigh!
The sound of a horse echoed from afar. And simultaneously, a pure white flash pierced through the sand dust, approaching at tremendous speed.
"What the hell is that?"
[Stop it!]
Both the District 49 gangs and the corporate agents couldn't help but be surprised. After all, it was a cowboy wearing a sheriff's badge, riding a white horse with a red scarf flying. And with a sword in his hand.