NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: A Webshooter
Gunfire erupted around the plant as the workers seized the upper hand. It was a one-sided massacre. The night stalkers, disoriented by the sudden flash of light, struggled to fight back. They stumbled, scrambling blindly as the workers' shots tore through them.
"Time for my part," Zack muttered, drawing the sharp blades from his armor. He charged toward the stalkers, cutting through their ranks with ruthless efficiency. Even a blunt piece of metal, powered by his armor, could slice through flesh and bone with ease.
One of the night stalkers sensed him coming and tried to strike. But Zack effortlessly dodged the attack, beheading the creature in a single swing. He moved from one to the next, dismantling them without hesitation. Just as he finished, a loud, piercing roar rang out—a cry of anger and defiance.
"Sir, I've pinpointed the leader!" Ego's voice sliced through his focus.
Zack looked up and saw a larger night stalker in the distance, its fierce gaze locked onto him. They stared at each other for a tense moment before the creature let out an enraged howl. The remaining stalkers, positioned by the back door and broken wall, immediately abandoned their attacks, retreating into the shadows.
"Oh, so you're trying to run?" Zack muttered, narrowing his eyes as he watched the leader. Without a second thought, he stepped out of the light and sprinted after it.
The night stalker leader, spotting Zack entering the darkness, leapt down from the rooftop it had been perched on, landing heavily on the ground.
"So, you want a fight?" Zack grinned beneath his helmet. "Fine by me."
He retracted his blade and pushed the MV-01 armor to its limits, charging toward the creature with thunderous speed. As he closed in, he extended the blade, ready to deliver a deadly strike.
What he didn't expect was the night stalker's agility. Just as Zack swung, the leader ducked under him in a move that resembled a low slide tackle. The creature's sharp claws scraped across his waist, leaving a series of deep scratches on the armor.
"Did… did I just get hit by a sliding tackle?" Zack thought, astonished. He had never expected such a move from a night stalker. Before Zack could react, the leader leapt onto his back, clawing at the armor with frenzied strength. The creature's claws dug deep, leaving gouges in the metal.
"Warning! Back armor damaged, 30% integrity remaining!" the suit warned.
"I know!" Zack muttered, maintaining his focus. He fully extended his arm blade, reaching back in a swift, precise strike. The blade sunk deep into the creature's shoulder blade.
"Roar!" The night stalker leader screeched in pain, thrashing violently to escape the blade.
"You're not going anywhere," Zack growled, turning to face the creature. With a quick motion, he extended the second blade from his left arm, aiming for the leader's head. But at the last second, the night stalker leader twisted its body, letting the blade slice through its right arm instead. The severed limb allowed the creature to free itself.
"Roar…" The leader hit the ground hard but quickly scrambled to its feet and fled, disappearing into the darkness.
"Damn it!" Zack cursed, giving chase. The MV-01's speed was impressive in a straight line, and he quickly closed the distance. But the leader, now one-armed, scrambled up a nearby wall, its claws digging into the brick as it scaled it with surprising speed.
"Get down here!" Zack shouted, throwing his arm blade like a throwing knife. The blade struck the night stalker leader's back and lodged deep, but it didn't bring the creature down. Instead, it climbed to the rooftop and disappeared into the night.
"Ego, track it with the satellite!" Zack barked.
"Yes, sir," Ego replied. The satellite traced the creature's path, tracking it as it ducked into an underground garage in a nearby factory. Once the location was logged, Zack returned to the steel plant.
Back at the plant, the powerful lights were still on, casting a reassuring glow over the area. Not a single night stalker remained. Charles and the other workers were already clearing the battlefield, loading the bodies onto a truck to be disposed of at dawn.
"Mr. Zack is back!" someone shouted.
"Mr. Zack, we did it! Not a single casualty!" The workers and their families cheered, their faces filled with relief and gratitude. After the terror they'd endured, tonight felt like a miracle.
Charles stepped forward, his face a mix of apology and admiration. "Mr. Zack… I misjudged you. If it weren't for you, we'd still be living in fear, and tonight could've been a disaster."
Zack gave a calm nod. Charles had been skeptical, but now he and the others fully understood the value of Zack's presence.
"Thank you, Mr. Zack!" A young worker grinned, showing the gap where a few of his teeth had been lost in a fall, but it didn't seem to bother him.
Before the cheering could continue, Zack's voice cut through the noise. "Don't celebrate too early. Some of the night stalkers managed to escape."
The smiles faded, and the workers exchanged uneasy looks. The reminder was sobering—there were still night stalkers lurking in the dark corners of the industrial area. "But we should be safe for the rest of the night," he added. "Charles, set up a rotation for night watch. Keep the lights on until dawn."
"Understood, Mr. Zack!" Charles said, quickly organizing shifts among the workers.
After confirming the arrangements, Zack returned to the office. Once inside, he activated Ego's alert mode, which would scan for any approaching creatures and sound an alarm at the first sign of danger. He then removed his armor and placed it on the charging dock.
"MV-01 is still too limited in its attack capabilities," he muttered as he sank into an armchair, deep in thought.
Tonight's battle had revealed critical flaws in the armor—its lack of ranged weapons and limited flexibility. Even with the improvements to its transmission system, the heavy plating of the MV-01 restricted his movement. If only he had access to stronger alloys, like titanium, he could improve both defense and agility.
"Guess I'll save those ideas for the MV-02," he mused, allowing himself a brief moment of rest.
Zack shook his head, dismissing thoughts of new materials for the MV-01. Resources were limited, so it was better to focus on refining his tactics against the night stalkers.
"Let's work on a way to slow them down," he murmured. His years of experience in MOBA games had taught him that controlling the enemy's speed could provide a huge tactical advantage, making it easier to maneuver around them.
"Sir, would you like to equip the MV-01 with high-powered lighting?" Ego suggested.
"Lights?" Zack imagined himself walking around with a blinding spotlight and immediately shook his head. "No, Ego. I don't want to be a walking sun. High-powered lights would drain the armor's battery too quickly." He paused, deep in thought, then suddenly his eyes lit up. "Wait! I've got it!"
"What is it, sir?"
"A net shooter—like the ones fishermen use to catch fish. But make it sticky and portable!" Zack's excitement grew. He'd been so focused on the armor itself that he hadn't considered this idea before.
"Ego, do we have data on these kinds of devices?"
"Processing based on your request. Yes, sir. There are 165 sets of information on similar devices. I suggest we create a web shooter."
"Perfect!" Zack grinned.