Sky-cracking Rider-Chapter 356: Section 352 - Assessment Point

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The mobile base vehicle, coated with a layer of desert camouflage, was already slow, but the undulating sand dunes made it even slower. Moreover, energy had to be conserved; it could only travel for 12 hours a day. Not only did the vehicle need to rest and recharge, but Chen Fei, the driver, also needed to take a breather.

Even after spending thousands of energy points to boost the "Super Capacitor" skill to level 50, doubling its capacity more than once, the electricity autonomously exchanged through the "Light/Electric/Magnetic/Crystal Energy Universal Converter and Management Component" still couldn’t last for 24 hours.

The feeling of being hollowed out was like finding everything tasteless, even beer had lost its appeal.

Trudging along, the mobile base vehicle took three days to approach an oasis within the inner ring of the Central Great Desert. Fortunately, they had a mode of transport; otherwise, this journey on foot would have taken at least ten days.

Moreover, there were many high-radiation zones along the way. If one did not want to consume more anti-radiation medicine, they would have to spend more effort to detour a wide berth, taking even more time.

According to satellite positioning, the location of the small oasis, with a diameter of less than 1 kilometer, was exactly the designated stopping point for Team 18.

Oases have their advantages; they provide a source of water and some food on-site, alleviating the pressure on supplies. Moreover, the radiation level in such a small area is very low, so there’s no need to worry about excessive exposure. However, the disadvantages, or rather the dangers, are also evident.

Oases would inevitably become important nesting sites fiercely contested by mutants.

"Warning, within a 5-kilometer radius, the number of mutants exceeds 300, no mutants in the core area!"

"Adam", in charge of managing the mobile base vehicle, issued the warning.

The area surrounding the oasis was clearly infested with small mutant outposts, with a large number of mutants both above and below the sand, and some visible to the naked eye wandering back and forth.

Perhaps having reached some tacit understanding, these mutants didn’t overcrowd the small oasis. A pool of water, lush grass, scattered with some large trees and shrubs, the oasis instead became a safe sanctuary.

Perhaps sensing the approach of the mobile base vehicle, this enormous entity, many mutants raised their heads in vigilance, yet none dared to act rashly. They were perhaps still in a state of uncertainty, gauging the combat strength and threat of this big fellow.

The 20-meter long mobile base vehicle was enough to intimidate some of the more timid mutants with its sheer size.

Teams 04 and 18 both silently sweated over the situation.

Earth Order fire mage, Adrian Benjamin, expressed his concern to the members of Team 18, who were packing their equipment, "Are you really going to pass through?"

After all, they had only 12 members, while outside there were more than 300 vicious mutants. The only way to enter the oasis was with a full-force assault.

However, this was Team 18’s designated assessment point. Team 04’s mobile base vehicle had already gone out of their way to bring them here, which was as helpful as they could be. If they rashly offered further aid, it might result in both teams being assessed as failures.

An assessment point could only accommodate one team.

"Don’t worry about it! Piece of cake, you guys go ahead!" Team 18’s silver-bearded captain confidently waved his hand and turned to shout at the Feathered Tribe young man carrying the magnetic rail sniper rifle, "Simba, start with the furthest ones."

"Roger that, sir!"

The young Feathered Tribe member, lifting the magnetic rail sniper rifle and lugging a large and heavy ammo box, trudged to the peak of the sand dune. He set up the bulky rifle, ready to take aim.

This position had enough coverage to span the entire small oasis.

By pounding the distant mutants into howls, the nearby ones would probably still be bewildered. Indeed, this was a safe method to reduce the number of mutants.

"Well then... Good luck to you!"

Seeing that they were well-prepared, Adrian Benjamin chose not to say more.

This was a stern assessment that each team needed to confront on their own. The danger was inevitable, but for ability users who were accustomed to combat, this was all in a day’s work.

Members of Team 04 bade farewell to their counterparts in Team 18 with waves. Having ridden together for a few days, the two teams had become familiar with one another.

The mobile base vehicle turned and picked up speed, moving faster away from the oasis. The mutants nearby, who had been watching it, collectively sighed in relief as they saw the large object depart.

Adrian went to the driving seat inside the carriage and asked, "Chen Fei, how many more days do we need to reach our destination?"

In order to ferry Team 18, the mobile base vehicle had taken an extra day on the road, but they still needed to arrive at the assessment location within the predetermined time.

Chen Fei glanced at the electronic map and replied, "Another 18 hours of driving to reach the destination."

Given the current endurance state of the mobile base vehicle, it was impossible to travel continuously for more than 12 hours. Even if it were possible, the human body couldn’t withstand such a long roller coaster ride. There had to be uninterrupted breaks along the way to restore physical energy, and even more importantly, to maintain most people’s fighting strength in case of a potential mutant attack. So, the accurate time frame could be two days, or even three wouldn’t be surprising.

"Beep!"

It wasn’t just Chen Fei; everyone’s communicators simultaneously beeped with various electronic alert tones.

"There’s an incoming message!"

Earth Order fire mage Adrian, who was conversing with Chen Fei, furrowed his brows slightly and took out his phone to see the group message everyone received at the same time.

Due to the omnipresent nuclear radiation and mutants, it was impossible to establish a vast network of communication base stations throughout the Central Great Desert of Yangzhou Continent to cover every inch. Hence, everyone’s communication equipment could connect to satellites.

Additionally, several relay drones trailing behind would alternate in staying aloft for extended periods to assist in bolstering signal strength, trying to minimize the effects of nuclear radiation and special mutants on communications.

"Team 07 has been wiped out!"

Adrian Benjamin was the first to see the message and looked incredulous. Discover exclusive content at novelbuddy

It had only been moments, and Team 04 had not even reached their assessment point yet when they received the startling news of another team’s sudden annihilation.

It’s worth noting that every team’s personnel composition is carefully considered with a broad coverage of abilities. Even if there’s a difference in overall combat strength between teams, it’s not vast.

Team 04 was already mentally prepared for the dangers of the desert, but...

Then another loud ringtone sounded for an incoming call.

It was that damn Liaison Officer Rossi. Since they set off, the man had shown no concern for Team 04. Getting a call from him at this hour probably boded no good news.

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"It’s Rossi, keep your voices down, and Apu, no random talking!"

Adrian, being cautious, gave the instruction once more before connecting.

"Why did it take you so long to answer?"

Rossi’s voice was laced with impatience and irritability, hardly waiting for Adrian to reply as he spoke at a rapid pace, "You all know about Team 07’s situation, don’t you?"

Adrian replied formally, "Received, Liaison Officer Rossi!"

Rossi said bluntly, "All of you be careful, don’t just die on a whim!"

"Hey! Old man Luo, you’re worried about your own bonus, aren’t you?"

The big black guy Apu made a startling remark, again losing control and speaking blunt truths.

Inside the mobile base vehicle, silence enveloped the cabin.

"…"

Good gracious, he wouldn’t stop until he shocked everyone.

Once again, everyone’s gaze focused on the big black guy. He was glared at to the point where he had to swallow his next words and instead wore an innocent expression.

This honest boy had spoken out of turn again.

"Who? Who’s that talking? Is that you, Adrian?"

The call suddenly fell silent; then Rossi’s thunderous voice erupted from the phone.

He wouldn’t admit that his bonus was linked to the performance of the teams he was responsible for.

The unexpected annihilation of Team 07 meant not only would all kinds of bonuses for the liaison officer go down the drain, but there might also be an investigation into whether warnings and communication had been delivered on time and properly.

"Er... it wasn’t me; someone’s watching a movie!"

Adrian could only feign innocence with a wry smile and tell an outright lie—since it wasn’t a video call, he could just spout nonsense, dead men tell no tales.

"Hmph! You all be extra careful!"

The liaison officer Rossi ended the call through gritted teeth.

Being embarrassed twice in succession, anyone would have been in a really bad mood.

"Phew…"

Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, slowly putting away his phone, having successfully bluffed his way through.

Turning around, he put on a stern face and spoke in a displeased tone, "Apu, next time someone calls, you stand further away!"

Twice in a row, the liaison officer had been infuriated by this big black guy. Sooner or later, the account would be settled on the heads of everyone in Team 04—a completely unwanted disaster!

"Oh! Oh!"

The big black guy Apu touched the back of his head, looking somewhat bewildered.

Even now, he hadn’t realized his mistake.

…

After 15 hours of continuous bumpy travel, the mobile base vehicle approached a terrain completely alien to the vast desert landscape as far as the eye could see.

A hill made of rocks appeared on the desert horizon.

Acting as the temporary navigator, Captain Adrian Benjamin compared the satellite map and coordinates, and declared loudly, "15 kilometers straight ahead, the dead volcano, that’s it, our assessment point is there."

The mobile base vehicle arrived at the vicinity of the assessment point earlier than estimated.

Mouri Misono, exhausted from the ride, slumped over the table and spoke weakly, "We can finally stop!"

She was gradually getting used to such a bumpy drive, but still felt quite dizzy, unable to discern any sense of direction.

Adrian’s phone rang again; he picked it up, glanced at the others, and said, "Shh! It’s Liaison Officer Rossi!"

Then he glared at Apu fiercely, and the rest promptly shoved the big black guy into the toilet and locked him in.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing, let me out!"

Thump thump thump!

The confused Apu started banging on the toilet door from the inside.

"No noise allowed, the captain is taking a call."

With a hefty thud, Kiterley, a Class-A Metal Ability User, kicked the door in frustration.

"Oh!"

The big black guy finally quieted down, and everyone else seemed to breathe a sigh of relief in unison.

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