He picked up the helmet and slid it on. For a moment, everything went dark, then the HUD display flickered to life, overlaying his vision with various readouts. The visor turned transparent, letting him see the room clearly. As he focused on different objects, detailed information about them appeared. The holographic interface was smooth and seamless.
"MV-02 self-test… all systems operational," Ego's voice announced.
"Ego, are you sounding better, or is it just me in a good mood?" Zack joked.
"Thank you, Sir. All systems are ready for outdoor testing," Ego replied.
"I agree," Zack said, flipping up the visor. He turned to Annie and added, "Once I head out, you and Sophia stay inside the Mansion. It's secure enough to handle most threats. If anything major happens, get in touch with me immediately—I'll give you access to the MV-01 if necessary. Got it?"
Annie nodded firmly. "Don't worry, big brother! I'll keep Sister Sophia and the house safe!"
"Good," he said, giving her a pat. "Remember, the MV-01 is on the lower level."
With everything set, Zack walked over to his modified transport vehicle, which looked more like an armored truck than an escort car.
"Ego, take the wheel," Zack instructed as he climbed into the back.
"Understood, Sir," Ego responded. The engine roared to life, and the steering wheel began to turn by itself, smoothly guiding the vehicle out of the basement and onto the road.
On the desolate, debris-filled highway, the armored truck barreled forward like a tank, smashing anything in its path. The front end, equipped with a heavy-duty ram, pushed abandoned vehicles aside with ease. The constant sound of impact and the roaring engine soon attracted nearby zombies, but the truck kept charging forward relentlessly.
Zombies swarmed from all directions, many getting crushed under the wheels. Those approaching from the sides met the spikes lining the vehicle's edges, while others clawed at the bulletproof exterior, creating an endless, high-pitched scraping sound.
In the back of the truck, Zack sat in the MV-02 suit, his sound dampening system activated. He leaned back, closing his eyes as the chaos outside became nothing more than background noise. He wasn't tired—there was simply nothing out there worth his attention.
It had been nearly twenty days since the outbreak. By now, most survivors had either found safety or met a grim fate. Only the lucky, bold, or resourceful had formed survival groups. The rest had either fallen to the zombies or quietly wasted away in hiding, succumbing to hunger or despair.
At first, Zack had scanned the surroundings for any signs of life. But soon, he realized that outside of the undead, there wasn't a single soul along his route. It was just him, his vehicle, and a wasteland of crumbling buildings and shattered lives.
Zack leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest. Suddenly, Ego's voice came through his helmet speakers.
"Sir."
"What's up, Ego?" Zack asked, eyes still closed.
"I've detected something unusual that might interest you."
To avoid running into massive hordes of zombies, Ego had been using satellite imagery to monitor the surroundings. Zack opened his eyes, curious. "Let's see it."
An image from the LSI satellite appeared on his HUD display. The scene showed a small town, straddling the line between city and countryside. On the roof of a truck in the middle of the street stood a woman with bright red hair, a cigarette dangling from her lips, and a brazier at her feet. Zombies swarmed in from all directions, clawing their way toward her, but she seemed completely unfazed.
Just as the zombies reached the truck, the woman flicked away her cigarette and raised her hand. The flames in the brazier flared to life, as if responding to her command, and whipped into a fiery red serpent that slithered toward the horde. The fire spread instantly, consuming the zombies and turning them into towering, flaming figures. The air was thick with acrid smoke.
Calmly, the woman took out a gas mask and put it on as if this was routine. Once the zombies were burned to death, she jumped off the truck, landing gracefully—despite wearing high heels. She lit another cigarette, then casually strolled toward a nearby supermarket.
"What… is this? A superpower?" Zack's eyes widened, excitement flooding him. The last time he encountered someone with unusual strength, Jacob, he'd dismissed it as a fluke. But this... this was something different.
"Seems like superpowers aren't just for the movies…" he muttered. Then, he paused, a thought creeping into his mind. "Wait, I have a system. Maybe superpowers aren't so impossible after all…"
A thought struck him: 'Could I be changing too?'
"Ego, is there any chance I might develop superpowers?" he asked.
"I can't confirm that, Sir. There isn't enough data. However, I can report that you're in peak physical condition—better than the most elite athletes," Ego noted.
Zack narrowed his eyes. It was true. But part of him resisted the idea. If it weren't for the system, he might be excited about the changes—they would definitely help him survive the apocalypse. But with the technology of the Power armor, his survival was already guaranteed. Besides, this change was mysterious, and who knew if it came with any side effects?
"Ego, let's find this woman," he decided.
"Understood, Sir."
The vehicle made a sharp turn, sending a few zombies tumbling to the ground, where they were promptly crushed under the tires. Meanwhile, in the supermarket, the red-haired woman observed a group of men loading supplies. She took a drag from her cigarette, sneering. "Move faster, you slackers! One more delay, and I'll cut your food rations in half."
"Yes, Lady Erza," they replied nervously, speeding up their work as they loaded bags onto their shoulders, avoiding her sharp gaze. Occasionally, they stole glances at her, clearly intimidated.
Catching one of them staring, she shot him a cold glare. He immediately straightened up and kept loading supplies without a word. A young man responsible for lookout duty rushed over. "E-Erza!"
"What's got you so worked up?" she asked, unimpressed.
The boy gulped, his face turning red. "T-There's a car coming!"
She smirked. "Perfect. I was just thinking we could use a vehicle with more room." She shrugged, as if the car was already hers.
Soon enough, the approaching vehicle came into view. When the group saw it, they froze in shock. The vehicle looked like something straight out of a nightmare. With a spiked front and a blood-stained body, it was littered with traces of zombies—from scraps of clothing to body parts. Even from a distance, they could smell the stench of blood.
Erza's casual expression shifted. As the vehicle came closer, she slipped her hand into her pocket and gripped a windproof lighter, her eyes narrowing as she prepared herself. With a screech of tires, the vehicle came to a stop just ten meters away. "You and you," Erza commanded, pointing to two men. "Go check it out."
The two men hesitated, unwilling to approach the blood-soaked vehicle. But when they saw Erza pull out her lighter, they hurried forward. The windshield was smeared with dried blood, making it impossible to see inside. Trembling, they opened the driver's side door.