“Aberrant activity in the Ruin Zone has been frequent lately. This operation of ours is making quite a stir; if something gets drawn in and bites us from behind, it’ll be a huge mess.”
The commander took the list, his brow furrowing slightly. “Can’t we set them up on the return trip?”
“On the return trip, we’ll be dragging the wounded and the spoils, making movement difficult. Sparing people to set up posts then would be even more troublesome.” Cold Wind’s voice was steady and composed.
“If we do it now, it can be finished in twenty minutes without delaying the schedule.”
The commander thought about it and nodded. “Fine, you arrange it.”
Aside from Chen Chen and Lu Ming, the other four Level 2 Ability Users were assigned three people each by Cold Wind and disappeared into the ruins in different directions.
Su Wan’s mental power followed their departing figures until she confirmed they were far from the convoy before slowly withdrawing.
The remaining two, Chen Chen and Lu Ming, were stationed separately—one on the Command Vehicle and one within the infantry ranks.
Iron Bone kept an eye on Chen Chen, while Lu Ming stood at the edge of the formation, idly kicking at the pebbles on the ground, completely oblivious to what was about to happen.
Su Wan issued an order to Cold Wind through their contract: “Lu Ming is yours. Once the sandstorm starts, control him immediately. Don’t let him use sound to transmit any information.”
Everything was ready.
Through the contract link, Su Wan issued instructions to all four of her subordinates simultaneously.
【Cold Wind, arrange for Chen Chen and Iron Bone to board the Command Vehicle. Tell them they are needed to help guard a suspicious individual.】
【Understood.】 Cold Wind’s conscious response was concise and calm.
Two minutes later, the rear door of the Command Vehicle opened again.
Chen Chen was led up by Cold Wind, with Iron Bone following behind.
Chen Chen was a man in his thirties, of medium build with an ordinary face—the kind of person who would absolutely vanish in a crowd.
As soon as he entered the vehicle, his gaze fell upon Su Wan in the corner, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
“This is her? Cold Wind said she was acting suspiciously?”
Iron Bone slapped him on the shoulder and grinned. “Yeah, this broad. Cold Wind said we should come up and keep an eye on things. In case she’s an Ability User, ordinary people won’t be able to hold her.”
Chen Chen nodded without asking further questions and sat down across from Su Wan.
Iron Bone also sat down carelessly, positioned right between Chen Chen and the vehicle door.
Besides the driver, there were three communications soldiers in the cabin.
Cold Wind stood at the door, his gaze sweeping across the interior before landing on Iron Bone. “Watch her. I’m going to the front to keep an eye out.”
Iron Bone nodded. “Don’t worry.”
Cold Wind closed the door, and his footsteps gradually faded away.
The convoy restarted, and the roar of the armored vehicles echoed through the cabin walls, dull and noisy.
The convoy moved slowly. The road conditions in the Ruin Zone were pitted and uneven, causing the Command Vehicle to jolt violently.
The communications soldiers were busy with their tasks, occasionally whispering to one another. None of them noticed the blindfolded woman in the corner silently releasing her mental power.
Su Wan’s mental power had already locked onto everyone inside the vehicle.
The three communications soldiers were Level 1 Ability Users with weak energy fluctuations—hardly worth mentioning.
The driver was an ordinary person, not even an Ability User.
Chen Chen was Level 2 Late Stage with the Sand Control ability.
Iron Bone was Level 3 Mid Stage with the metalization ability.
All were within her grasp.
Ten minutes later.
Su Wan issued the command through the contract link.
【Iron Bone, move.】
Iron Bone moved.
Without any warning, his burly frame suddenly bolted upright, and he slammed a fist into the back of the driver’s seat!
Bang—!
With a muffled explosion, the seatback shattered. The shockwave of the punch swept across the back of the driver’s head, sending him slumping forward, instantly unconscious.
Iron Bone stepped into the driver’s cabin, grabbed the unconscious driver with one hand, tossed him aside, and took the driver’s seat himself.
The entire process took less than three seconds—so fast that the communications soldiers in the cabin didn’t even have time to react.
At the same time, Su Wan’s mental power acted like an invisible heavy hammer, slamming hard against Chen Chen’s consciousness core!
Chen Chen’s body stiffened violently, and his pupils constricted. Having just started to stand up, he froze in place as if someone had pressed a pause button.
His hand remained poised to reach for his waist; his Ability Core had just begun to circulate when it was ruthlessly suppressed by Su Wan’s mental power.
His Sand Control ability didn’t even have time to move a single grain of sand.
“You—”
Chen Chen only managed to utter a single syllable before Su Wan’s mental power surged in like a tide, sealing his vocal cords and crushing all resistance.
Su Wan stood up.
She casually tore off the black cloth covering her eyes, and the alloy handcuffs on her wrists were shattered, hitting the floor with a heavy clang.
The three communications soldiers finally reacted. One reached for a weapon at his waist, while another opened his mouth to shout—
But it was all too late.
Su Wan’s mental power transformed into three invisible needles, piercing the consciousness cores of the three men simultaneously.
Their bodies stiffened, their eyes rolled back, and they slumped limply to the floor, motionless.
In the cabin, only Chen Chen remained standing.
However, his body was trembling violently. Veins bulged on his forehead and his teeth were clenched tight as he desperately resisted the mental power invading his mind.
Su Wan walked up to him, and her Level 3 Late Stage mental power poured out without reservation.
Chen Chen’s resistance collapsed in an instant.
His consciousness core was completely suppressed by Su Wan’s mental power, as if it had been cast in concrete, unable to move an inch.
But a final glimmer of clarity remained in his eyes as he stared at the woman before him, his gaze filled with horror.
“What... what are you going to do?”
Su Wan did not answer.
She raised her hand, pressing a fingertip to Chen Chen’s forehead. Her mental power transformed into countless fine threads, probing deep into his consciousness and guiding his Ability Core to begin operating.
Chen Chen’s eyes widened even further.
He felt his ability being manipulated, being guided.
That power flowed through his meridians, precisely activating every node of his Ability Core.
“Sandstorm,” Su Wan’s voice was calm and cold. “Now.”
Chen Chen’s body moved involuntarily.
His hands slowly rose, palms upward, as the Ability Core within him began to spin frantically.
Outside the window, the sand and soil on the ruins began to vibrate.
At first, it was just a subtle tremor, like wind blowing over a dune.
But soon, the vibration turned into a surge. The sand and soil rose from the ground as if stirred by an invisible hand, swirling and spreading through the air.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Chen Chen’s forehead, and his body shook violently, but Su Wan’s mental power acted like an invisible hand, firmly controlling his every movement.
The dust grew thicker and thicker.
The grayish-yellow sand blotted out the sky and sun, forming rotating sand pillars that enveloped the entire convoy.
Everything in sight was rapidly disappearing—the sky, the ruins... all swallowed by the dust.
The sandstorm erupted!
Meanwhile, outside the Command Vehicle.
The moment the sandstorm rose, Cold Wind moved.
His figure flickered, and he appeared beside Lu Ming.
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