The team was selected in a hurry.
The biggest issue with Riders was that they were almost always interested in financial gain, and they were also hardly available. As such, despite the laws of Sector E giving the governnt power to ask for cooperation from Riders when it ca to matters of National Interests, it couldn't really be enforced on them.
Why?
Because low-rank Riders couldn't even be considered for the current situation, but high-rank Riders were too important for the people of the world and the current operations of the Sector.
As a result, no Rider could really be penalized for being unavailable.
Also, Riders were actually in short supply.
Compared to the endless demands that the people made, Riders were too few in comparison.
Not everyone was like Sobin, who could complete requests in a few hours or a day at most. Many of these Riders took weeks to months to complete a single request due to how difficult the terrain was, and also having to deal with Monsters and Plunderers.
Life was tough in the Apocalypse, especially for Riders who constantly put themselves out there.
Naturally, the governnt knew this.
As a result, they didn't enforce Martial Law on them, or use their powers to compel them.
Instead, they simply sent out a Sector-wide request for reinforcents, while also promising rewards for compliance.
Then—
"Listen up, everyone!" The Recruitnt Captain's bark thundered across the hangar. Dozens of armored soldiers snapped upright in neat formation, rifles slung across their backs and helts tucked against their sides.
"Today… we go to war!"
Behind them, engineers scurried about, checking gear, fueling the aircraft, and running diagnostics.
The tension in the air was heavy—like a storm waiting to break.
The Captain paced before the soldiers, his steel-toed boots echoing on the polished floor. His scarred face was stern, but his eyes burned with a quiet fire.
"You already know the stakes. The Regional Industrial Plant has fallen silent. Power's down across multiple Zones, weapons supply is cut off, and communication with our stationed S Rank Riders has been severed. That place is the beating heart of Sector E." New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel_fіre
Murmurs rippled among the n and won, but none broke formation.
The Captain stopped walking, folding his arms behind his back.
"So of you are probably wondering—why not send in remote-piloted robots? Why risk human lives?" His voice grew louder, sharper. "The answer is simple. We can't. The Plant is too far from any of our command bases. Remote signals weaken the farther they travel, and that's before factoring in the interference."
He jabbed a finger toward the floor, as if pointing at the distant Plant itself.
"The area around the Plant is swarming with powerful Monsters. Their presence alone scrambles frequencies, making remote control useless. By the ti a drone takes two steps, the signal's lost. We'd be walking blind. Which ans this mission…" He swept his gaze across the gathered troops. "…has to be carried out by you. Human soldiers. Flesh and blood."
Silence followed. No one moved. No one flinched.
Then, slowly, one by one, the soldiers straightened their chins. Their eyes burned with resolve. No hesitation. No fear.
The Captain's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.
"That's what I like to see. n and won willing to lay down their lives for Sector E." He turned, gesturing toward the side door. "And speaking of which… it's ti you et your commanding officer for this operation."
The soldiers stiffened, glancing at one another. A new commander? Now?
The door hissed open.
In walked Sobin.
Not in military armor. Not in pristine uniform. Just his usual deliveryman attire, jacket slung over one shoulder, his expression halfway between bored and mildly annoyed.
"...That's him?" soone whispered.
"Shut it," hissed another.
Sobin stopped at the front, hands shoved into his pockets. He scanned the rows of soldiers, who looked back with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
"This," the Captain announced firmly, "is Rider Sobin. He'll be leading this mission."
The reactions ranged from wide-eyed stares to barely concealed frowns.
'Leading? This guy?'
Sobin cleared his throat. His voice, when it ca, was calm, almost casual.
"Try to keep up."
That was it. No pep talk, no inspiring speech—just that one blunt line.
The soldiers blinked. So tilted their heads. One even mouthed the words in confusion.
Keep up? With what? They had jets. Gunships. Airborne chs. How was a single Rider supposed to outpace them with a truck?
Even S Rank Riders were not this arrogant!
But orders were orders. They were soldiers, and asking questions wasn't part of their job.
"YES, SIR!" they roared back in unison, saluting with voices like thunder.
Sobin gave them a small nod, then turned to leave.
"Dismissed!" the Captain barked.
The soldiers broke formation, scattering to prep gear and coordinate.
anwhile, Sobin stepped out of the hangar and strolled back toward the parking bay where his pride and joy was waiting.
—Bessie.
The truck glead under the floodlights, its fra reinforced, its engine rumbling like a beast eager to be unleashed.
Sobin leaned against her hood, arms crossed.
"So, Bessie. Big mission coming up. Industrial Plant's gone dark. Monsters everywhere. And…" He tapped his chin. "…you get to fight."
"For real? Finally! We haven't had any action in sooo long!" Bessie rumbled louder, like a growl. Her headlights flickered twice, almost like eyes lighting up in excitent.
"Now that you ntion it, the Monsters have actually not been moving as much as they used to. I wonder what made this situation occur like this."
"Does it matter? We finally get to fi—I an, complete Quests!" Bessie giggled.
"Heh." Sobin chuckled in response. "Knew you'd be happy about that."
[Seems you aren't as excited as she is. That's a new one…]
The System chid in his head.
"It's not that I'm not excited. I just don't like unexpected situations like this arising. If it's within the course, of my job… I understand, but this is getting a little too serious." Sobin sighed as he patted the hood.
[Well, Sobin, be aware: completing this mission will further cent your position within Sector E, even as a Rider. After this, your power will be undeniable.]
"...Yeah." Sobin's smile faded into a sigh. He looked away, scratching the back of his neck.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
The System went silent.
He pushed off the hood and slid into the driver's seat. Hands on the wheel, eyes forward.
"Well, Bessie. Guess it's ti to show them what we can do."
The day rolled by in preparation. Soldiers equipped their chs, fueled their jets, and loaded their weapons. Engineers double-checked supply crates.
By nightfall, everything was ready.
And then—departure.
The hangar doors opened, revealing the dark horizon stretching endlessly across the wasteland. Engines roared to life—jet thrusters screaming, rotors chopping the air, chs stomping forward in steady rhythm. The convoy lined up, a display of firepower fit for a war.
At the very front sat Sobin, one hand lazily resting on Bessie's steering wheel. His gaze flicked to the rear-view mirror, taking in the countless machines and soldiers behind him.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's get this over with."
"Operation Reclamation—comnce!" The Captain's voice rang out over the comms.
With a unified roar, the convoy surged forward. Jets streaked upward, chs thundered ahead, armored carriers rolled out. The ground shook under the sheer montum.
And then—
VROOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
Bessie's engine howled like a dragon breaking free of its chains. The truck shot forward with explosive speed, the sand beneath its wheels erupting into twin trails of fire and dust.
In an instant, Sobin blasted past the tanks. Past the chs. Past the gunships lifting into the air.
Even the jets that had only just taken off found themselves struggling to catch up—only to be left eating his dust as Bessie scread across the wasteland like a bolt of lightning.
The soldiers gaped, eyes wide as their sensors registered the impossible.
"...Did he just—"
"He outran a jet!"
"Impossible! That's a truck!"
The convoy thundered behind him, but no matter how hard they pushed their engines, the truth was clear.
No one could keep up with Sobin.
Up ahead, Sobin leaned back casually, steering with one hand, lips curling into a small grin.
"Okay, let's get this over with as fast as possible!"
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