NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121: Aegis
Zack turned slightly, surprised by the question. "The first time I saw her," Sophia continued, "she looked so familiar. It felt like I'd met her before, but I couldn't figure out why. Her appearance, her body—none of it matches anyone I can recall, but still…"
"Her background is similar to Erza's," Zack explained calmly. "She was from another base before she joined us."
"Oh, I see," Sophia said, nodding. The explanation seemed to ease her mind, and she decided to drop the matter. Maybe it was just her imagination after all.
"Alright, take it easy today. Don't overdo it and risk reopening your wounds," Zack said as he turned to leave.
Sophia's face flushed bright red. She pulled the quilt over her head, muttering a muffled, "Okay."
Zack chuckled, shaking his head, and headed downstairs. After washing up quickly, he grabbed the breakfast prepared by Mia and her team and made his way to the basement. "Ego," Zack said between bites of toast, "did you pick up anything last night?"
The night before, Shadow also revealed the Asian communication frequency band of the Vanguard Organization, Ego had managed to hack into it within seconds, undetected. Rather than tampering with the band, Ego had simply listened in, gathering what information it could. "Nothing significant, sir," Ego responded. "The frequency had minimal activity last night, and the few communications that took place didn't reveal anything useful."
"That's fine. Keep monitoring it," Zack said, unconcerned.
Right now, the situation was in his favor. He was operating in the shadows while the Vanguard Organization remained exposed. As long as the frequency band stayed active, all of the organization's movements in Asia were under his watch. "Sir, incoming call—from the prison," Ego suddenly announced.
"The prison?" Zack frowned, then realization dawned on him. "Ah, the dancer must've succeeded."
When Zack answered, an anxious, trembling voice greeted him. "Mr. Jack? Is that you?"
"It's me," Zack replied coldly.
"Mr. Jack, it's terrible! Antonny… he was killed by a monster! And everyone who was with him—they're all dead too! The prison is in chaos… Everyone's terrified the monster might come back…"
The voice belonged to an elderly man, and in the background, Zack could hear other panicked voices chiming in. It sounded like the prison's old, weak, and sickly survivors had found Antonny's communicator and were desperate for guidance. "Carry on with your usual work. Keep tending the farmland. Don't worry about the monster. I'll send someone to handle things," Zack said in an even tone.
"Understood, Mr. Jack. We trust you! We'll keep working hard. The crops will be ready for a big harvest this fall!"
Despite Zack's rare appearances at the prison, the survivors there were deeply grateful to him. These elders had endured unimaginable hardships in their lives, and Zack was the only one who gave them a chance. In any other base, they would've been abandoned, left as zombie bait, or worse, turned into rations. But Zack took them in.
Out of gratitude, they worked tirelessly, turning the barren land outside the prison into lush farmland filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains. What was once Prison had transformed into something closer to a farm—a granary for Zack's growing empire."Ego, contact Charles. Tell him to select someone with management experience from the steel mill and send them to the prison," Zack ordered.
"Understood, sir," Ego replied.
With the prison issue handled, Zack turned his attention back to the work he hadn't finished the night before.
The space-based satellite project was progressing smoothly. The LSI satellite launch base had a ready-to-use launch vehicle, so building the satellite was the only remaining step. The real problem, however, was the flying fotress. A bigger version of Avalon "No matter how I run the simulations, it's not feasible," Zack muttered to himself.
Zack blinked in surprise. "Wait, what?" His brow furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Ego remained silent for a moment, as if debating how to respond. Finally, it answered. "Sir, based on the current situation, I recommend the Aegis-Class Aerial Command Platform. Its modular design would better suit your current resources and strategic goals."
A 3D holographic model of the platform appeared on the screen in front of Zack. The stats were staggering. The craft was massive, with a fuselage length of 90 meters and a wingspan of 100 meters—larger than the world's biggest aircraft. When parked, it occupied an area equivalent to several football fields.
"Aegis-Class?" Zack tilted his head, studying the model. "This looks like an oversized Avalon, doesn't it?"
He scanned through the details and quickly realized how impressive the design was. At first glance, the Aegis-Class did look like a scaled-up aerial unit, but its purpose was far more advanced. It wasn't just a transport vehicle—it was a full-fledged aerial combat and command platform, capable of coordinating ground and air operations from the sky. Its advanced modular bays allowed it to dock, repair, and deploy smaller aerial units, making it indispensable for large-scale campaigns.
Unlike a stationary base or ocean-bound carrier, the Aegis-Class offered unparalleled versatility. It could remain airborne for extended periods and operate independently, even in hostile environments. The more Zack read, the clearer it became. Building a massive fortress in the sky right now would be impractical—its resource requirements and vulnerabilities outweighed its benefits. The Aegis-Class, however, was adaptable and efficient, meeting his needs without draining his territory's resources. "What's its maximum flight speed… Mach 5?!" Zack's eyes widened. "You're telling me this giant thing is supersonic?"
For a plane with a maximum payload of 300 tons and a takeoff weight of 840 tons, a top speed of Mach 5 was mind-blowing. It was like imagining an elephant soaring through the skies, "This is it! We're building Aegis Class," Zack declared, his excitement reignited.
"Understood, sir. Construction of Aegis will commence immediately," Ego replied.
The planned construction site at the port was swiftly abandoned in favor of NYC Airport. Supplies and materials were redirected, and work began at once. "Sir, if you're building Aegis, I recommend designing a dedicated Avalon fighter," Ego suggested.
Zack nodded, already intrigued. As an aerial command platform, Aegis wasn't just a standalone vehicle. Its design included a docking station for a Avalon on its back—a "parent-child" structure. Aegis acted as the mother vessel, while the smaller Avalon could dock, deploy, and return after missions. "It's a clever design," Zack mused, admiring the concept. "But it's a shame it can only carry one Avalon at a time."
This limitation was why Ego had proposed designing a new fighter. "That shouldn't be too hard," Zack said, pulling up a 3D holographic model of the Avalon. "Its current design leans too heavily on transportation, which affects its aerodynamics and speed. We'll fix that."
Zack got to work, reshaping the Avalon's design. He stripped away unnecessary bulk, streamlined the frame for combat, and added a flatter, sleeker profile. He tweaked the propulsion system to boost speed, reworked the weapon placements, and adjusted the materials for better durability without sacrificing maneuverability. The end result was a completely transformed Avalon. Its new design resembled a flat blade, sharp and agile. From the side, it looked like a peregrine falcon diving at high speed. "Ego, what are the simulation results?" Zack asked, studying the holographic model.