Strongest Deliveryman In The Apocalypse

The wasteland was silent.

Not even the hot desert winds dared to speak after what they had just witnessed.

The Riders, the guards, even the drivers of the massive convoy transports—all of them stood frozen, their mouths agape, eyes locked on the steaming carcass of the Giant Sandworm. Its body sprawled in grotesque chunks across the dunes, the air thick with the stench of ruptured flesh.

And then, slowly, every head turned toward Sobin.

Still seated comfortably in Bessie, he stretched, cracked his shoulders, and muttered something about the mission taking too long.

That was the final straw.

"W-we… we mocked him…" one of the D-Rank Riders stammered, eyes wide with dawning horror.

Another slammed to his knees, pressing his forehead into the sand. "Forgive me, Rider Sobin! I—I didn't know you were so mighty!"

The rest followed like dominos, collapsing into hurried bows and prostrations.

Armor scraped against sand. Weapons clattered to the ground. Even Jarek, proud Jarek—the C-Rank leader who had been paralyzed moments before—dropped to his knees, trembling as his forehead pressed low.

"Rider Sobin… no—Master Sobin! Forgive my arrogance!" Jarek's voice cracked. "I dared to doubt you. I dared to order you aside. Please… please, take command of us. Lead us from here onward!"

The desert was suddenly filled with the chorus of begging voices.

"Please lead us!"

"Forgive our ignorance!"

"You're far above us all!"

Sobin blinked, staring down at them with an expression that wavered between confusion and mild annoyance.

"Uh… what's with you guys?" he asked, scratching his cheek. "I'm E-Rank. You're overreacting."

"Impossible!" Jarek shot back, lifting his head just enough to look up, his eyes blazing with conviction. "There is no universe where an E-Rank one-shots a Sandworm. Even multiple C-Ranks would struggle! You must be hiding your true rank!"

The other Riders nodded furiously, muttering agreements.

"Yes! He's definitely a hidden S-Rank…"

"No, no, at least A-Rank! Only someone of that caliber could crush a C-Rank Monster like that."

"Whatever it is, he's leagues above us. That's undeniable!"

Sobin sighed. "I keep telling you, I'm just E-Rank. Nothing more, nothing less."

But his words fell flat against their conviction.

In this world, strength was everything. And Sobin had proven his in the most undeniable way possible. In their eyes, he was probably just being modest about his strength, or maybe his words were a silent mockery towards them—a trap.

They refused to believe him!

Their cries only grew louder as they pressed their heads even lower and felt the sting of hot sand burn their skin.

Finally, Sobin let his shoulders slump. "Fine. Whatever. If you want me to lead, I'll lead. But don't expect me to give some fancy speech. Just… keep up."

"Yes, Leader Sobin!" the Riders chorused, their heads bowed.

With Sobin at the head of the convoy, the pace changed immediately.

Where Jarek had chosen cautious routes around dangerous ridges, Sobin simply pointed forward.

"Shortest way's through the Scarred Valley. Let's take it."

Gasps of protest rose instantly.

"The Scarred Valley?! That's a death trap!"

"It's swarming with monsters far worse than the Sandworm!"

"There are even rumors… of a B-Rank creature lurking there. A city-killer!"

Sobin shrugged.

"So what? Quicker's better. Let's go."

Sobin had easily killed A Rank and S Rank Monsters in the past. To him, encountering a mere B Rank Monster was nothing of note.

The Riders looked at each other, fear warring with loyalty.

But in the end, they fell in line. Sobin had crushed their doubts along with the Sandworm. If he said it was safe… then it must be.

And so the convoy plunged into the valley.

*********

The Scarred Valley earned its name well.

Jagged cliffs rose like broken teeth on either side. Deep fissures split the sand, hiding shadows that whispered with unseen movement.

The moment the convoy entered, monsters emerged.

A swarm of Ashclaws—avian predators with talons sharp enough to carve steel—descended from the cliffs. The Riders tensed, engines roaring, weapons raised.

But before they could engage, Sobin leaned out Bessie's window, whistled sharply, and drove straight at them.

Bessie's horn blared once.

The sound was thunderous, laced with Sobin's strange, otherworldly aura. The Ashclaws screeched in terror, scattering like frightened pigeons.

Not a single one dared to come close.

The Riders stared, slack-jawed.

"He… scared them off?"

"With just a horn?!"

They had no time to dwell.

Next came the Ironbacks—hulking quadrupeds with armor plating like natural tanks. They charged across the valley floor, aiming to slam into the convoy's flank.

Sobin didn't even slow down. Bessie swerved once, her massive frame slamming through them like bowling pins. Bodies crumpled and split apart under her tires, the monsters left twitching and broken in her wake.

"Keep moving!" Sobin called lazily.

The Riders followed, their fear shifting into awe.

Monster after monster fell before him.

No hesitation. No struggle. Just swift, overwhelming dominance.

For the first time, the convoy's guards realized—they weren't protecting the transports anymore.

Sobin was protecting them!

And then, deep within the valley, the earth shook again.

But this time, it wasn't the rolling tremor of a C-Rank Sandworm.

This was heavier. More oppressive.

The sand split wide, fissures spiderwebbing across the ground. The air grew thick, almost unbreathable.

A shadow loomed, and from the depths rose a creature unlike any the Riders had seen before.

Its body was colossal, dwarfing even the Sandworm. Plates of obsidian armor glistened beneath the sun, ridges lined with spines that crackled faintly with energy. Its head resembled a dragon's skull, jagged teeth glowing faintly with molten light.

—A B-Rank Monster.

The legends had spoken true.

Panic erupted instantly.

"A B-Rank…!"

"We're dead—we're all dead!"

"This thing could wipe out a whole Zone by itself! Even an entire Zone isn't safe from its rampage!"

Engines faltered.

Voices broke into sobs.

Even Jarek, who had once carried himself with pride, trembled openly.

But Sobin just narrowed his eyes.

"So this is the scary one, huh?" He leaned back in his seat. "Doesn't look so tough."

"Leader Sobin!" a Rider cried. "We can't fight this! It'll kill us all!"

Sobin smirked. "Not if I kill it first."

He tapped the steering wheel. "Bessie."

"Yes, Master!"

The truck roared like a beast unleashed.

Sand and dust exploded as Bessie shot forward, straight at the towering monster.

The Riders screamed warnings, but Sobin ignored them. His focus narrowed, calm and sharp.

The B-Rank Monster bellowed, its roar shaking the valley walls. Energy built in its throat, molten light gathering.

Sobin yawned.

And then, with a single devastating strike, Bessie rammed into the creature's armored chest.

The sound was indescribable—metal tearing, flesh rupturing, stone shattering. The monster's glow sputtered, cut short as its massive body convulsed, then collapsed with an earth-shattering crash.

Dust blanketed the valley. Silence rang once more.

When it cleared, only one figure stood—Bessie idling calmly, Sobin sitting relaxed in the cabin.

The B-Rank Monster lay shattered, its molten glow extinguished forever.

"...."

No one spoke.

The Riders simply stared, their faces pale, their eyes wide with awe and terror.

This was no longer a man to them.

This was something beyond human.

Their fear was primal. Their admiration, absolute.

Slowly, as if compelled by instinct, they bowed. Not just prostrations this time. Genuine reverence.

"Leader Sobin… we are unworthy."

"The greatest! You are the greatest professional in this field!"

"You are… the strongest Rider."

Tears glistened in some eyes. Others shook with laughter born of disbelief.

But all were united in one truth: Sobin was untouchable.

"Well… that was easy. Let's keep moving. No more delays." Sobin leaned back, scratching his head.

"Yes, sir!" They all cried as one.