NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81: Mass Destruct Weapon
In the basement After breakfast, Zack headed to his workshop. On the workbench were two newly built prototypes.
The Magnetic Fluid Cloud Bomb was massive—1.5 meters long, with a half-meter diameter. Its cylindrical body gleamed under the workshop lights, and its lack of a propulsion system made it stand out. Instead, it housed a huge dose of high-energy fuel.
"Looks solid. I'll test it later," Zack muttered, turning to the second prototype.
The Micro-Cluster Spreader was significantly smaller, its compact, boxy design resembling a brick. Its dark exterior gave no hint of its hidden power, but inside were 140 micro-missile warheads, each painstakingly enhanced for greater explosive power.
"Don't judge by size," Zack said, lifting the spreader with ease. "This little guy's packing serious heat."
"Ego, remember the jammer we built?" Zack asked casually, inspecting the array of devices.
"Of course, sir," the AI responded smoothly.
"Good. Tell the mechanical bug to scale it up. Make it big enough to cover at least half of NYC City. Simulate the cry of the leader from the last zombie wave."
"As you wish, sir."
Zack grinned. Testing the new weapon was already exciting, but combining it with a practical cleanup of NYC City's zombie infestation? That was efficiency at its finest.
The basement buzzed with activity as mechanical arms whirred into motion. Dozens of small mechanical Ants scurried about, assembling the components of the massive jammer. Within minutes, a monstrous device equipped with a huge broadcasting unit was completed.
"Brother, what are you working on?" Annie's voice interrupted as she walked into the basement, curiosity written all over her face. She'd just finished breakfast and was drawn by the clatter of machines.
"Perfect timing! Let's go watch some fireworks," Zack replied with a mischievous grin.
"Really?!" Annie's eyes sparkled with excitement, but her lips curled into into a small frown.
Zack noticed her expression and tilted his head. "What's up? You okay?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Annie mumbled, her voice dropping. "Fireworks sound fun."
"Great! Though, technically, it's more of a weapons test," Zack clarified with a shrug.
"Ah…" Annie's enthusiasm dimmed, and she pouted slightly. Zack brushed it off, already focused on the task at hand.
He suited up, donning his war machine armor. The missile launcher on his right shoulder was swapped out for a micro-cluster spreader, and he hefted the cloud bomb with practiced ease. With everything prepared, he moved toward the Avalon parked just outside. "You stay in the plane," Zack instructed, strapping the cloud bomb securely into the cabin.
"Okay," Annie replied, settling into the co-pilot's seat. She watched as Zack returned to the basement, emerging moments later with the colossal jammer. He attached it to the Avalon's underside using a heavy-duty sling.
With everything in place, the Avalon lifted off vertically, soaring toward NYC City. Zack followed close behind in his armor. "Ego, activate the jammer!" Zack commanded.
A low hum filled the air as the bait powered on. The sound quickly intensified, climbing to frequencies incomprehensible to human ears. Then, the simulated cry of the zombie leader erupted—a chilling, guttural roar. Almost immediately, NYC City's undead population stirred. Zombies from every corner of the city became alert, their guttural moans and snarls echoing in response. The sound of countless footsteps grew louder as they converged toward the source of the call.
"So this is how those massive zombie waves are formed," Zack muttered, observing the chaos from above. One zombie was no threat, but when they gathered in numbers—when they moved as one—their destructive potential was terrifying. It was a glimpse into the worst-case scenario: an organized, disciplined zombie horde.
"Ego, slow us down and lead them out of the city," Zack ordered.
The Avalon decelerated, pivoting to lure the swelling zombie tide toward the outskirts. The streets below teemed with the undead, forming a relentless black wave that swept through the city, consuming everything in its path.
The Avalon eventually reached the countryside, with zombies from neighboring Wu City joining the fray. Zack estimated the numbers were in the hundreds of thousands now, an apocalyptic swarm with no end in sight.
"Drop the bait," Zack instructed.
The Avalon released its payload. The bait, now detached, deployed a parachute mid-air and descended gently into a forest clearing. The simulated cry continued to ring out, drawing the zombies closer and closer.
"Roar!" "Hiss—roar!" "Roar!" The tide surged toward the jammer's landing point, its frontlines composed of fast zombies like super-hunters and raiders. Among them, grotesque mutants twisted by secondary infections pushed forward with terrifying speed. "Open the hatch," Zack said as he ascended toward the Avalon. The rear hatch opened just in time for him to glide inside.
"Brother! There are so many zombies!" Annie's voice quivered as she rushed to his side. From the air, the sheer scale of the horde was overwhelming—a seething, writhing mass that consumed everything in its path.
"Don't worry. You'll see the fireworks soon," Zack reassured her, walking to a porthole to observe the growing vortex below. At the center of the maelstrom, where the jammer had landed, zombies piled up in a frenzy. More and more pressed in from the edges, turning the horde into a living whirlpool.
"Preliminary estimate: at least 300,000 zombies," Zack noted grimly.
"Ego, should I go first, or will you?"
"Your call, sir."
Zack grinned, his tone laced with determination. "Alright, let's light it up!" Without hesitation, he jumped out, activating his thrusters mid-air. The powerful jets roared to life, propelling him higher into the sky. "Prepare to drop the spreaders!" he called out, banking in a wide arc to approach the massive zombie horde below.
The decision to use micro-cluster spreaders instead of heavier weapons was calculated. The bombing by Antonny's team had been effective, but Zack needed something optimized for large-scale carnage. Against an overwhelming tide of corpses, the cluster bombs were perfect. As he passed over the swarming zombies, Zack deployed the spreader from his right shoulder with a sharp command. "Drop deployed!"
A faint thud echoed as the device detached and fell. Moments later, hundreds of micro-missile warheads scattered like raindrops, aided by small wind-guiding fins at their tips. These fins caught the gusts, spreading the warheads over several kilometers, ensuring widespread destruction. Below, the zombies stirred. Some growled, others shrieked, as if sensing the danger overhead. But their unease came too late. The warheads detonated two meters above the ground in a synchronized airburst, unleashing devastating power.
Boom! Boom!
The explosions ripped through the horde, fiery bursts lighting up the darkened landscape. Some fireballs connected, forming walls of flame, while others erupted individually, ripping apart the waves of undead. The ground quaked under the relentless barrage. Shredded limbs and burning corpses were strewn everywhere, the once-massive tide now reduced to scattered ash and brittle charcoal.
Even from his high vantage point, Zack could feel the heat radiating from the destruction. The Avalon's armor registered the intensity, relaying the sensation through his suit's feedback system. The results were staggering. Hundreds of thousands of zombies were obliterated in seconds. The explosion radius stretched a full kilometer, with stray warheads wreaking havoc far beyond that. Yet, Zack's keen eye caught something concerning amidst the smoldering remains.