Chapter 57: Teamwork
Most eye-catching of all were two giant saber-toothed tigers flanking the starting line.
The two stone beasts crouched on either side of the mountain path like ancient mountain gods. Their stern, imposing eyes seemed to watch every driver who dared to creep forward early.
Buzz—
High in the air, a massive holographic screen flickered through the rain, displaying the live leaderboards. The dungeon’s automated announcer came online, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the misty valley:
“The All-Terrain, All-Weather Rally is about to begin. Drivers, prepare yourselves.”
“Countdown starts now… Ten, nine, eight…”
As the counter dropped to zero, both giant beasts raised a heavy forepaw and struck the ancient bronze bell set into the rocks.
Dong—!
The deep ring cut clean through the torrential downpour.
Go!
Dozens of vehicles surged forward like released arrows. Engines screamed, tearing through the gray sheet of rain as the frontrunners vanished around the first bend of the mountain road, flinging thick sprays of mud into the air.
Lin Huai, however, started her armored hearse at an easy pace. She eased off the line and merged smoothly into the drenched path behind the pack.
Up on the floating screen, a cheerful commentator gave running updates:
“Alright, as you can see, our lead driver has already reached the middle slope! Incredibly fast—oh! He went over the edge…”
“Drivers, please note: mountain roads are slick. Drive with care!”
His tone was polished and professional, but everyone could hear the unmistakable trace of dark amusement in his voice.
Up ahead, drivers fought aggressively for the inside lane. Wheels spun helplessly on the muddy switchbacks, spraying wet earth in all directions.
One heavily modified SUV took a sharp curve with too much speed. Its outer tires slipped onto the soft shoulder, causing the heavy body to tilt violently. The driver counter-steered in pure panic, but it was no use—the entire vehicle flipped sideways and tumbled down into the bottomless ravine. On the leaderboard above, his name instantly went dark.
Lin Huai brought up her system screen, spending fifty thousand underworld coins without hesitation to activate the team voice channel.
“This is Bone Ashes. I just crossed the start line. Where is everyone?”
Dragon Emerging from the Sea’s steady voice answered immediately: “Boss, I’m about two hundred meters ahead of you, right at the base of the climb. There’s a wide turnout here. Should I wait for you?”
Old Wang from Building Materials grumbled over the line: “These tiny hatchbacks are really crowding out my rig. I haven’t even made it through the starting gate yet!”
Lin Huai chuckled softly. “Don’t sweat it. Take your time. I’m keeping a steady pace. I’ll link up with Brother Long first, and the rest of you can fall in behind us.”
Once all eight vehicles gathered at the turnout, Lin Huai reorganized the convoy’s order.
If You’re Bad, Practice More drove a nimble, modified off-road vehicle. She paired up with Dragon Emerging from the Sea’s heavy Sabertooth to run point as the forward scouts.
Lin Huai’s armored hearse was essentially a rolling fortress. The defensive aura cast by her green jade coffin covered a wide perimeter, so she took position in the center of the formation. From there, she could act as the command hub while shielding both the front and rear of the convoy.
The delivery vans driven by the Three Knight Brothers slotted into the middle ranks according to their individual armor and weapon setups. Jiangzhehu Inheritor tucked in right behind Lin Huai, while Old Wang’s heavy flatbed truck took up the rear guard.
With the Yellow Springs Road Guide feeding real-time topographical scans straight to her console, Lin Huai became the squad’s radar and tactical core.
“Brother Long, steady on the wheel! Falling rocks ahead—watch for a mudslide!”
Her warning had barely left her lips when a muffled boom rattled the slope above. Boulders, loose shale, and heavy mud tore loose from the hillside, crashing down across the center of the track.
The lead vehicles reacted at once. The Sabertooth and the SUV braked hard and swerved, narrowly avoiding the falling debris.
Other nearby drivers weren’t so fortunate. Two cars failed to turn in time, smashing straight into the rocks before sliding into the ditch. The drivers survived, but their ruined suspensions forced them out of the race on the spot.
“Brother Long! Cut hard to the right! Climb that dirt berm and go around!” Lin Huai commanded calmly through the headset.
“Copy that!”
Dragon Emerging from the Sea didn’t hesitate for a second. With a hard tug on the wheel, the Sabertooth’s heavy off-road tires gripped the solid earthen berm along the shoulder, powering right past the blocked roadbed.
“Knight squad, stay on his bumper! Keep your spacing and hook up winches so nobody loses traction!” Lin Huai continued.
The Three Knight Brothers moved like clockwork. Prepared in advance, they fired steel tow cables between their vans, linking their vehicles into a flexible iron chain. Working together across the slick incline, they balanced each other’s weight and climbed the muddy grade with steady momentum.
“The slope ahead is steep and loose. Keep your wheels straight—a little drift won’t hurt you,” Lin Huai directed smoothly. “Brother Wang, your truck has the mass. Push the rear van forward and lock down the line! If you need more power, fire up the Yin-energy booster. The team vault will reimburse any crystals you burn.”
Her directions were sharp, practical, and clear.
Old Wang’s multi-axle heavy hauler carried serious weight, and its wide tires found solid traction in the sludge. When Hungry Spirit Blue Knight’s van began to slide backward on the muddy rise, Old Wang nudged his reinforced bumper straight against the van’s rear door. He engaged his Yin-energy drive with a deep roar, pushing the entire convoy up the steep slope in one steady shove.
By the time the convoy crested the mountain pass without a scratch, ready to dive into the next stage, the live leaderboard showed that every single member of Lin Huai’s team had cracked the top thirty.
Lin Huai had earned massive bonus points for “Team Coordination” and “Survival Strategy,” quietly pushing her overall score all the way to first place!
“Boss, you’re amazing!” If You’re Bad, Practice More cheered over the radio.
“Follow the boss, and nobody goes hungry!” the three delivery drivers chimed in together.
“Where to next?” Dragon Emerging from the Sea asked, his voice filled with quiet excitement.
Lin Huai glanced at her rearview mirror, watching the convoy follow in tight, disciplined formation. A small smile touched the corner of her lips.
She eased down on the throttle, steering the hearse into the blinding rain sweeping down the far slope. Her voice was calm, firm, and commanding:
“Hold your spacing. Next checkpoint: the river crossing! Brother Wang, Knight squad—take the front! Drive straight into the current to create a breakwater, and shield Brother Long, Sister Cai, and the young lady while they cross!”
Stage after stage unfolded, and the minutes ticked away. More and more isolated drivers dropped out of the race—and some never left the track alive.
Yet high on the leaderboard, the name “Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice” remained firmly locked in first place.
Behind her, the rankings of the other Elite Squad members climbed steadily with every passing kilometer.
Finally, the rally came to a close, and the announcement chimed across the instance:
[The All-Terrain Rally has concluded. Congratulations to player Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice for securing 1st place! Rewards: Bone-Crushing Box x1, Emerald x5, Instance Shard x1.]
[Congratulations to Dragon Emerging from the Sea and If You’re Bad, Practice More for taking 2nd and 3rd place! Rewards: Green Ghost Box x1, High-Tier Talisman Blueprint x1 each.]
[Congratulations to Old Wang from Building Materials, Fastest Hand at SF Express, and Hungry Spirit Blue Knight for claiming 4th, 5th, and 6th place! Rewards: Green Ghost Box x1 each.]
[Congratulations to Flash Delivery Yellow Knight, Jiangzhehu Inheritor, Sunset on Mountain and Sea, and Grass Don’t Float for placing 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th! Rewards: Yellow Talisman Box x2 each.]
The Elite Squad had swept eight of the top ten positions.
Old Wang leaped from his cab, pumping his fist into the air. “The Boss is incredible!”
Watching her teammates laugh, cheer, and clap each other on the back, Lin Huai couldn’t help but chuckle. Looking at the lively group standing around her, she felt an unfamiliar sense of warmth and quiet hope stir in her chest.
