Bang! Bang! Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!

At 9:15 a.m., the black curtain of night lifted. Dawn broke once again over the vast Western Gobi Desert. The sun soared high, engines roared across the open wasteland, and sharp gunfire pierced the air.

Beyond the horizon, more than a hundred heavily modified bandit vehicles were chasing down two survivor convoys. From Sand Serpent's Mouth all the way toward Akesai, they raced wildly across the gravel plains. Tires crushed the brittle camel thorn bushes with crisp snaps, echoing like the wailing of shattered bones.

The sand bandits’ convoy swept across the desert like a steel flood, kicking up a massive wave of dust.

Leading the charge was a bizarre machine—a half-bulldozer rigged with tank treads, its roof mounted with a flamethrower crafted from an old oil pipeline. Atop it stood the leader of the Red Vulture Gang, Red Eagle, wearing a rusted-shut gas mask. His voice, distorted through a voice modulator, roared:

“Cage the men! Capture the women alive!”

"Whoooaaa!!"

That one command sent the desert thugs' adrenaline skyrocketing. Drivers screamed and hooted;

some fired their rifles into the sky. A modified off-road military truck surged forward from the convoy, a bald thug standing atop it with a rocket launcher. Grinning with blackened teeth, he took aim at the fleeing survivor convoy and pulled the trigger.

Whoosh—Boom!

A rocket exploded just behind a modified SUV at the rear of the convoy, blasting it forward violently. Its rear tire caught fire, sending the vehicle rolling and flipping wildly.

The pursuing bandits cackled madly, hurling Molotovs into the shattered windows of the overturned SUV. Boom! Flames engulfed the survivors inside before they could escape, their agonized screams piercing the chaos.

The survivors' convoy fought back fiercely. A lowly thug was shredded by a blast of molten metal, half his upper body blown clean off, the scent of blood instantly thick in the air.

But the brutality only made the sand bandits more frenzied.

At the heart of the convoy, a heavy golden monster truck with two vertical smoke stacks belching thick white smoke led the charge. A massive brute, wearing a razorblade mask and nothing else, stood atop the truck bed, wielding a customized Gatling gun. Bullets shredded the survivors’ windshields, blood and glass bursting inside the cabs, the drivers' screams swallowed by the roar of engines.

In the passenger seat sat a hulking middle-aged woman with a grim, sun-scorched face—the infamous leader of the Scorpion Gang, Old Scorpion.

She called herself the Emperor of the Desert. Standing nearly two meters tall, her waist twice the girth of a normal person’s. Her exposed left arm rippled with steel-cable muscles, inked with a detailed schematic of a "Man-Eater Chainsaw." Her gut spilled over her studded leather armor, but she made no attempt to cover it. Greasy tufts of hair clung to the sides of her bald head.

In front of her, two handsome young men, chained by the neck, attended her—one massaging her shoulders, the other feeding her ice cubes. She casually sucked in a man's fingers along with the ice before crunching down with a loud crackling sound.

At that moment, a flare trailing red smoke slowly rose from Hu Lushou City nearby.

Old Scorpion snatched up her radio, her voice gravelly:

"Red Eagle, over at Akesai, Wu Lao Qi just launched a signal. The west side’s still blocked."

"Got it," Red Eagle replied, the eight-lensed eyes of his gas mask flashing red. "Yesterday that convoy tried slipping into the city, but your guys intercepted them at our camp."

Old Scorpion chuckled darkly, "Old Baldy, some of the men in that convoy are downright pretty. You better save a few for me to have some fun with."

Akesai, leader of the Earth Dragon Society, clad in camo power armor, had a sharp, calculating face but heavy white bags under his eyes from too much drinking and whoring.

"No worries," Red Eagle’s modulated voice rasped. "Old J's team is still stirring things up in Luobu. You sent Scarface's team this time."

"Motherf**ker!" Akesai cursed viciously. "Scarface's crew is even sicker than mine. What the hell am I supposed to play with? Those freaks are worse than beasts. Even the rent boys from Camel Bell Town are scared sh*tless of them."

"Hahaha!" Old Scorpion’s laughter burst over the comms.

"Men are men. No matter how pretty they are, they’ll be ours eventually. Make sure your boys keep an eye out. Not a single one escapes from Hu Lushou!"

"They're not getting away," another bandit snarled into the comms. "Even if they grow wings and fly, I'll shoot 'em down!"

Vrooooom!

The convoy thundered forward, raising walls of dust. In no time, the sand bandits were nearing Hu Lushou City, the ruins around them thinning out.

Though the survivor convoys hadn't been completely wiped out, the constant pursuit had devastated their armed forces. Bloodied and terror-stricken, they were herded toward the crumbling city.

As they approached the city’s outskirts, the Scorpion Gang’s vehicles slowed, coordinating with other bandit forces converging from Limping Slope to the south and the northern outskirts.

Together, they began encircling Akesai City.

"Whoooaaa!!"

Waves of incendiary bombs, rockets, and remote-controlled suicide drones rained down on the city. It was a scene of pure, apocalyptic plunder.

Explosions and gunfire filled the air. Abandoned buildings and shopping streets burst into flames, thick black smoke spiraling skyward, staining the Gobi skyline.

"Motherf**kers!"

From a high-rise, Lu Zhao peered through an electronic scope at the incoming sand bandit swarm. His face was cold as iron. Grabbing his radio, he barked orders:

"Fall back! Old Zhao, take your men and block Front Street! Don’t let Wu Dapeng’s bastards hit us from behind!"

"Got it!"

Down in the plaza, two battered survivor convoys tried to regroup. They had barely caught their breath before sand bandits stormed the city streets, pressing in from all directions.

Rat-tat-tat! Bang-bang!

The Dawn Convoy and the Akesai Brotherhood had set up defensive lines, and now opened fire. Hundreds of guns roared at once, temporarily halting the enemy's advance.

The survivors desperately rushed their vehicles into the plaza, pulling wounded comrades from burning wrecks, rallying whatever fighters they could to hold the line.

Meanwhile, the sand bandits’ main force didn’t seem in a hurry. They loitered at the outskirts, laughing at the burning city.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, a few nearby buildings exploded into clouds of smoke and debris. A sand bandit with earth-manipulating abilities, encased in stone like a human tank, smashed through the ruins and charged toward the Dawn Convoy.

As survivors swiveled their weapons to face him, a flying ability user with eagle wings and a combat helmet swooped from the sky, spraying bullets into a group of innocent survivors scrambling from a burning car, then arrogantly tossed dirty bombs toward the defenders.

"Woohoo!!"

Swoosh!

The defenders weren't about to roll over.

A shapeshifter among them flung out four or five tentacles, snagging the bombs midair and flinging them right back toward the earth-wielding mutant.

Boom! Boom!

Brown explosions shook the air. One bomb went off a bit too close, blasting one of the shapeshifter’s tentacles into bloody chunks.

"Incoming rockets!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three rockets screamed in from the distant streets, hammering the heavy trucks at the frontline. Metal exploded, windows shattered, bodies were flung through the air.

The tiny city of Akesai was plunged into utter chaos.

"F**k you, Wu Dapeng!"

On the rooftop, Lu Zhao roared furiously at the incoming enemy convoy.

The relentless attack crushed the survivors, their casualties piling up fast.

Even so, thanks to the defensive setup among the alleys and squares, they barely held the line—for now.

But then, just as suddenly as it began, the sand bandits withdrew, vanishing back into cover.

The gunfire stopped.

"What’s going on? They stopped?!"

"They’re running?!"

"Fall back! Fall back! Pull everyone in!"

On the ground, commander Xie Guan roared with bloodshot eyes.

Even in that short ten-minute clash, they had lost several men. The sheer pressure of the sand bandits’ firepower left him seething with rage and helplessness.

The survivors sensed something wrong. The sand bandits weren’t retreating—they were hiding.

The battlefield fell eerily silent, save for the crackling of burning buildings.

Screeeeech...

A piercing whine sounded from loudspeakers hidden throughout the city.

At the east gate’s main road, Old Scorpion’s golden monster truck idled among its escort vehicles.

She grabbed a loudhailer, her voice booming across Akesai:

"Ladies and gentlemen—sorry to disturb your beautiful morning."

As she spoke, she lazily caressed the woman draped across her lap.

"My name is Old Scorpion. Maybe you haven’t heard of me, but that’s fine. All you need to know is—I'm the one sending you all to hell today.

Our purpose here is simple: either you kill me, or I kill you. Straightforward, right?"

"Hahaha!"

The monstrous laughter of hundreds of bandits echoed through the burning city.

Old Scorpion’s raspy voice crawled through every street, weighing on the hearts of the survivors like a death sentence.

Beside her truck, Red Eagle of the Red Vulture Gang and Bone Dragon of the Earth Dragon Society glanced over at Old Scorpion, wild glee in their eyes.

"Ooh~"

Feeling the woman squirm against her, Old Scorpion let out a contented sigh and continued:

"But honestly, us sand bandits are reasonable folk. We're just trying to make a living.

Remember how we struck a deal with Boss Hu, collected toll fees, and protected Akesai’s safety? For half a month now, wasn’t the city peaceful?"

Old Scorpion’s tone darkened:

"But guess what?

Today we’re back.

Because we haven’t been paid.

You expect us to risk our necks for free? Isn’t it only fair that we collect some compensation?"

"Fair your a**!!"

At the plaza, the Dawn Convoy immediately set up their own loudspeaker, shouting back toward the far-off sand bandits.

At that moment, Lu Zhao, Xie Guan, and the two captains of the returning convoys were gathered at the Black Rose Bar, urgently discussing strategy.

Lu Zhao, known for his fiery temper, immediately exploded upon hearing Old Scorpion’s words. Eyes blazing, he cursed into the loudhailer:

"Robbery is robbery! Cut the bullsh*t, who the hell are you trying to fool? If you wanna fight, bring it on! Even if all of us die today, I want to see if you bastards can even get half your people out alive!"

"Oh, looks like we’ve got a tough one here," Bone Dragon sneered mockingly when he heard that.

Old Scorpion merely let out a cold snort and, rather than getting angry, calmly replied,

"Doesn’t sound like Boss Hu to me. Speaking of which, where is Boss Hu? Tell him we're mainly here for him. The other convoys are innocent. Boss Hu already paid your passage fees—you guys can just leave peacefully."

As soon as those words echoed across Akesai, many defenders' expressions changed.

The once-solid defense lines wavered visibly.

"Is... is he serious?"

"F**k, they’re sand bandits! You trust a sand bandit’s word?"

"But what if it’s true? If the toll’s been paid, maybe we really are off the hook?"

"They're already at the gate, and you're still dreaming?!"

Inside the Black Rose Bar, Boss Hu Lushou’s face darkened. He glanced nervously at the convoy leaders, swallowing hard.

Beside him, Sun Chang immediately realized the enemy’s ploy—to sow division.

It was blunt, but in desperate times, rationality was fragile. She shifted forward cautiously, tense.

Unexpectedly, Lu Zhao burst out laughing instead.

Snatching up the loudhailer, he sneered:

"Hahaha! No wonder you're a sand bandit boss.

Brain’s broken, but at least you know a bit of basic strategy."

"Shake the mountain to scare the tiger, then seal off the enemy’s retreat, huh? Now you’re trying to sow discord.

What, you think I’m stupid?

Tell me—do I believe the words of a sand bandit, or that the weirdos tonight will turn out to be some soft-skinned noble ladies?"

Boss Hu Lushou looked stunned for a second, then couldn’t help but give Lu Zhao a big thumbs-up.

"Captain Lu, you’re a genius! You saw right through their cheap tricks!"

Lu Zhao tossed the loudhailer back onto the table, face grim.

Though he looked like a rough brute with a nasty temper, it didn’t mean he was brainless.

He had once been a top graduate student.

Old Scorpion's ploy was crystal clear to him—but clarity didn’t make their situation any less dire.

Lu Zhao’s words immediately suppressed the murmuring among the convoys, dragging everyone back to brutal reality.

At the western blockade, Wu Dapeng squinted coldly and called over one of his men.

"That Lu guy and the others are hiding out at the Black Rose Bar.

Take some men, keep an eye on them.

Wait for my signal..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Take out the leaders, and the defense will crumble.

"Got it!"

The underling rushed off.

Meanwhile, back at Old Scorpion’s position, hearing Lu Zhao’s sharp words, a flash of cold light crossed her eyes.

She growled icily into the loudhailer:

"Oh?

So the convoy leader would rather drink a toast to death than bow his head.

Fine then.

From now on, any of your team we catch—men will have their eyes gouged out and noses sliced off.

Women... raped to death on the spot.

No one leaves alive.

How’s that? Enough respect for your tough guy act?"

Her words directly targeted Lu Zhao’s convoy, trying to sow seeds of fear and division.

Her venomous cruelty was unmistakable.

"Motherf**ker..."

Lu Zhao muttered darkly, clenching his fists.

He knew the sand bandits wanted to crush their spirits before physically destroying them.

Without unity, they’d fall easily.

But what could they do?

The initiative was entirely in the enemy's hands.

All they could do was hold the line.

"What now?"

Xie Guan asked grimly.

"We can’t win a direct fight.

Are we just supposed to stall for time?"

"No way," another convoy leader said, looking desperate.

"Knowing these bastards, if night falls, they’ll let the monsters loose on us.

Then we’re really dead."

"And if they just keep burning the city?"

"Hold on, hold on, don’t panic yet!"

Boss Hu hurried over, reaching for the loudhailer with a forced grin, flashing his gold teeth at the other captains.

"Since they called my name out, maybe I can negotiate with Old Scorpion?"

Everyone stared as Hu Lushou picked up the loudhailer, cleared his throat, and spoke into it.

"Hello? Hello...?"

The external loudspeakers boomed deafeningly across the streets.

Hu Lushou gave an awkward chuckle, then quickly straightened up and spoke seriously:

"Boss Old Scorpion, Captain Red Eagle, Boss Bone Dragon—it’s me, Hu Lushou.

Uh, what’s the meaning of all this today?

Bringing such a huge force and so much anger?"

His voice echoed through Akesai.

Across the sand bandit lines, Old Scorpion and her allies smirked.

Old Scorpion grabbed her own loudhailer:

"Boss Hu, don't play dumb.

Weren't you the one who got on your knees begging us to 'help' you collect toll fees?

Now, after we bled and sweated to keep this place safe, you're planning to ditch us?"

"No, no!

Absolutely not!

Who said that?"

Hu Lushou denied frantically.

"I was just about to hand over the fees collected these past few days!

You must’ve heard wrong!"

"Tch."

Old Scorpion snorted, her fat jiggling with disdain.

"Enough of the act.

I know your little tricks.

You were never one of us."

She sneered:

"Here’s the deal—leave your cut of the loot behind, and maybe, maybe, I’ll let you and your convoy leave safely.

After all, with the Polar Night approaching, you’ll want to run too.

Those old toll collection deals? Forget 'em. You’re on your own now."

Wu Dapeng, hearing this, hesitated, then tried asking:

"Really? You'll let him go?"

"Of course not, you dumb f**k! Hahahaha!"

Old Scorpion howled with laughter, her voice dripping with mockery:

"You think I'd trust a slimy merchant like him?

I'm selling every man and woman in his convoy into slavery.

That’s the real profitable business!"

"Motherf**ker!"

Hu Lushou stood there, wide-eyed, clutching the loudhailer.

He had been completely played—and not for the first time.

Last time, someone had sold him over a thousand defective Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifles...

Lu Zhao glanced at Hu Lushou’s devastated expression and scowled.

The arrogance and savagery of these sand bandits were beyond outrageous.

Clack clack clack...

Just then, crisp laughter echoed from the basement tunnel behind the bar.

"Who's there?!"

Lu Zhao and the others jumped, but Hu Lushou quickly waved them down.

From the shadows emerged a purple-haired girl, walking lightly with a grin:

"Man, they tricked you three times with one sentence."

Another calm voice followed from behind her.

Lin Xian, clad in Black Hawk Silent Hunter Armor, stepped forward, lifting his mask with a slight smile:

"What, losing faith in our plan already?"

Trailing behind Lin Xian were KIKI, Big Luo, and Liang Lei—both towering over two meters tall, each carrying heavy Roarer Gatling Guns, exuding raw menace.

Also following were Chen Sixuan, Li Guangwen, Lolo, A-Min, and two dozen other elite warriors clad in power armor.

Under KIKI's telekinetic protection, they had infiltrated Akesai during the night, hiding in the Black Rose Bar's basement.

Seeing Lin Xian emerge, Hu Lushou’s eyes lit up.

He plastered on a fawning smile:

"Of course not!

A merchant’s job is negotiation, right?

I was just stalling for time, buying us an advantage!"

Watching this intimidating group file out, Lu Zhao and Xie Guan couldn’t help but step back, expressions full of shock.

"Boss Hu, who... who are these people?"

"They're here to support us!" Hu Lushou said quickly.

"Support?"

Lu Zhao’s face brightened instantly.

"You’ve got a secret escape route?"

"Nope.

We snuck in earlier," Lin Xian said bluntly.

"..."

Lu Zhao smacked his thigh and cursed:

"That’s not support—that’s walking straight into a trap!"

"Not necessarily."

Lin Xian smiled coolly, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lu Zhao.

"Who’s surrounding whom isn’t set in stone."

With that, he grabbed the loudhailer from Fang Shengzi and calmly spoke:

"All surviving defenders in Akesai, listen up.

If these sand bandits really had the strength, they would’ve stormed in by now.

Instead, they’re busy playing mind games.

Think about it—if they weren't worried about heavy losses, why the hell would they bother with loudspeakers?"

He sneered:

"And you, Old Scorpion, Red Eagle, Akesai...

Big names, huh?

Three gangs teaming up.

But tell me, you guys decided nicely who gets to throw their people into the meat grinder first?"

Boom—straight to the heart!

Old Scorpion's face instantly darkened atop her monster truck.

Fury burned in her chest.

She yanked the woman chained beside her, nearly snapping her neck.

Across the bandit ranks, Red Eagle and Bone Dragon stayed expressionless—but their eyes flashed.

They knew exactly what Lin Xian was trying to do.

But knowing it didn’t stop the seeds of mistrust from being planted.

"And who the hell are you?"

Red Eagle barked into his radio, furious.

"This ain’t your place to talk!"

"You investigated my convoy yesterday, didn’t you?

Already forgot?" Lin Xian replied lazily.

At that, Old Scorpion, Red Eagle, and Bone Dragon exchanged glances, switching to internal comms.

"It’s that convoy with the hot woman," Bone Dragon snapped.

"But Wu Lao’er never said anything about new people in the city!" Red Eagle growled.

"Looks like Scarface’s team got nothing," Old Scorpion said grimly.

"I don't like uncertainties," Old Scorpion growled.

"Time to kill them all."

Without hesitation, she grabbed the radio:

"Viper! Scorpion! Granite! Get ready!"

At that signal, all the surrounding sand bandits received the command at once.

Gunfire erupted from every direction.

And the sand bandits’ top-tier ability users surged into battle!