As Ethan maneuvered the hover truck through the narrow mountain pass, the wind whipped harder, throwing sand and debris across the trail. The storm was intensifying, making visibility even worse. His HUD pensated, highlighting the edges of the pass and marking the positions of the remaining bandits, but the treacherous terrain still made it difficult to move quickly.

  "Two hostiles closing in from the left," Iris reported, her voice devoid of emotion. "One approag from the rear."

  Ethan cursed under his breath. He had dealt with bandits before, but the bination of a sandstorm and a narrow mountain path made this situation particurly dangerous. He had to stay focused. The truck's shields flickered as another volley of ser fire gnced off the side.

  "Rear psma turret, fire on the one behind us," Ethan ordered.

  The turret on the back of the truck swiveled, log onto the bandit's hoverbike. A bright burst of psma shot out, hitting the bike squarely and sending it careening into a roation. The explosion lit up the storm briefly before being swallowed by the swirling sand.

  "Two remaining," Iris stated.

  Ethan tightened his grip on the wheel, veering sharply to the left to avoid a sudden drop-off. The remaining two bandits were relentless, weaving through the storm with their smaller, mile bikes. They were trying to fnk him, one ing in from the left while the other stayed out of sight, likely pnning an ambush from above.

  "Iris, you pinpoint the sed rider?" Ethan asked, gng at the radar.

  "Hostile is maintaining distance, likely waiting for an opening. I reend prioritizing the closer target."

  "Got it," Ethan muttered, his mind rag. He o take out the one on his left before the other could close in.

  He pulled the truto a tighter turn, bringing it closer to the mountain wall. The bandit followed, thinking they had the upper hand, but Ethan was ready. Just as the bandit moved to fire, Ethan smmed on the brakes, sending the truto a skid. The bandit's bike shot ahead, right into the line of fire of Ethan's ser pistol.

  A single well-aimed shot hit the bike's engine, and it exploded in a fiery bst, debris scattering across the rocky path.

  "Only o," Ethan said, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

  The final bandit, realizing they were outmatched, made a desperate move. They accelerated, trying to circle around the truck, but the sandstorm was now in full force, redug visibility to nearly zero. Ethan squihrough the windshield, barely able to make out the swirling shadows.

  "Hostile is approag from above," Iris warned.

  Ethan's eyes flicked up just in time to see the bandit dropping down from a ledge above, aiming for the truck's exposed roof. He had to act fast. Without hesitating, he activated the truck's emergency boost, sending it rocketing forward just as the bandit's bike came crashing dowhe truck had been moments before.

  The bandit lost trol, their bike spinning wildly iorm. Ethan didn't wait for them to recover. He spuruck around, firing the psma turret o time. The bike exploded in a fsh of light, and then there was silence.

  "All hostiles ralized," Iris said, as calm as ever.

  Ethan leaned ba his seat, his heart still rag. The sted around him, but for the moment, he was safe. He couldn't afford to let his guard down just yet, though. The outpost was still hours away, and the storm was only getting worse.

  "Let's get out of here," he muttered, pressing the accelerator.

  As the truck surged forward, Etha his eyes on the road, determio plete the mission. The storm might slow him down, but it wouldn't stop him. Not today.