Ego processed his commands. "Sir, may I remind you that material supplies are already running low? At this rate, we can't keep up with demand."
Zack waved off the concern. "We've got an entire city's worth of resources at our disposal. Send out all the mechanical insect to start clearing the zombies. I want NYC under our complete control within two weeks."
"What about the other survivor bases in the City?" Ego asked.
Zack's eyes hardened. "They've got two choices: join us or die. Those who want to take refuge will go through a strict screening process. The healthy ones will be sent to the factories. The old, weak, sick, and disabled? They'll be relocated to SinSin Prison."
"And those who resist?" Ego inquired.
"Kill them," Zack said coldly. "No exceptions."
At SinSin Prison, even the elderly and disabled had to perform light manual labor or assembly work in exchange for weekly food rations. Zack had ensured a steady supply of food via transport planes. The prison's current manager, Antonny, was far from ideal—despite having same name with the Air Force Captain, this one is a greedy man with a elitist temperament—but for now, he was competent enough to keep the place running smoothly
"Understood, Sir. Your orders have been relayed," Ego confirmed.
Moments later, five or six mechanical dogs and a dozen spiders left the Mansion's grounds. They moved methodically, eliminating zombies in a steadily widening perimeter. The sound of machine gun fire echoed through the city, growing fainter as the mechanical beasts pushed farther away. "How's our air defense system coming along?" Zack asked.
"It's fully operational," Ego replied.
"Good. Deploy the bugs to the steel plant and set up a mid- and short-range interception system there," Zack ordered.
"Affirmative," Ego responded but added, "Sir, with the current expansion plan, our resources are stretched too thin."
Zack smirked. "Doesn't matter. Clear the zombies, secure the city, and we'll have everything we need."
Zack walked to a window, watching the mechanical beasts as they carried out his orders with ruthless efficiency. His gut told him something big was coming, and he wasn't going to take any chances. "Ego, keep the helicopter operational. We need a constant supply of ammunition for the mechanical bugs.
"On it, Sir," Ego replied smoothly.
The transport helicopter parked on the community's apron roared to life, lifting off under the precise control of Ego and heading toward the Armory. "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before we reclaim NYC," Zack said with satisfaction, eyes glued to the satellite feed displaying his mechanical beasts patrolling the area. The prospect filled him with excitement.
Once he secured the resources of an entire city, Zack could expand his mechanical army without holding back. But a sudden thought made him pause. "Wait... why does this feel like I'm turning into some kind of warlord?" He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "Not that it's a bad thing. In a world like this, being a warlord with an army of mechanical beasts is the dream, isn't it?"
Brushing off the self-reflection, Zack refocused. "Forget it for now. Ego, list all the weapons of mass destruction in your database that I can realistically build."
"Understood, Sir," Ego responded smoothly.
Moments later, an overwhelming list of documents filled the screen before Zack, so long he couldn't even see the end after scrolling through several pages. He sighed, rolling up his sleeves. "Alright, cut anything nuclear. Get rid of heavily contaminating weapons. Also, anything too costly is off the table."
As he set the parameters, the list narrowed significantly, but there were still plenty of options. One entry caught his attention. "Echo-17 Micro Missile?" Zack blinked at the name. "Isn't this standard-issue for military drones? Why didn't I notice it before?"
He tapped the entry to read the detailed description, and a laugh escaped his lips.
__________________
[Echo-17 Anti-Armor and Anti-Fortification Micro Missile]
Description: Designed for high-impact strikes on fortified targets, this missile delivers a concentrated kinetic and explosive payload.
Drawbacks: Long preparation time and an infamously high failure rate due to overheating guidance systems.
Note: Use at your own risk.
______________
"'Use at your own risk'? Who writes these notes?" Zack chuckled, shaking his head. "The engineers must've had a sense of humor. No wonder this thing hasn't been mass-produced." The sheer absurdity of the missile's failure-prone design and its grimly sarcastic description made him laugh harder than he had in weeks. Despite the humor, he couldn't help but appreciate the audacity behind the concept.
Later that night, Zack sat at his workstation, deep in thought as he combed through the remaining options. The screen glowed faintly, illuminating his tired but focused expression.
After hours of analysis and deliberation, he narrowed it down to two promising choices:
Magnetic Fluid Cloud Bomb
Description: A payload designed to disperse a fine cloud of magnetic nanoparticles over a target area. When activated by an electromagnetic pulse, the particles bond to electronic systems, short-circuiting them and rendering them inoperable.
Strengths: Perfect for disabling drones, vehicles, and fortified enemy defenses without causing massive structural damage.
Drawbacks: Requires precise deployment for maximum effectiveness.
___________________
Micro-Cluster Spreader
Description: A compact module capable of releasing dozens of miniaturized explosives in a widespread pattern. Each explosive contains a shaped charge designed to penetrate armor and neutralize infantry or vehicles.
Strengths: Highly versatile and effective in both offensive and defensive scenarios.
Drawbacks: Limited range and requires advanced targeting algorithms to maximize efficiency.
_________________
Zack leaned back in his chair, satisfied with his choices. "These should do the trick," he muttered. "The cloud bomb for taking out tech-heavy targets, and the cluster spreader for good old-fashioned firepower."
"Ego," he called out, "can you have prototypes ready by tomorrow morning?"
"Designs are being processed now," Ego responded. "Prototypes will be ready for testing by 0600 hours."
"Good."
The next morning, 6:00 AM, Zack's eyes snapped open. Since injecting the Super Serum, he rarely felt tired, his energy levels practically endless. His mind was sharper, his thoughts clearer. "Ego, report my physical stats," he requested as he stretched.
"Your current overall strength is approximately 8.6 times that of an average human," Ego replied. "Muscle strength shows the most improvement. It's now over 9 times that of an ordinary person."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "Nine times? Seriously?" He hadn't expected such a massive boost. "Why don't I feel clumsy, then? I thought I'd be smashing through walls by accident."
Ego responded calmly, "The nanosuit, Sir. It's likely helping you control your newfound strength."
"Good to know," Zack muttered, heading downstairs.
In the kitchen, Sophia was setting down a steaming basket of pickle buns. She looked up as Zack entered. "Up so early? Breakfast is ready."
"Perfect." Zack grabbed a bun without hesitation, the heat not bothering him at all. "This is really good. When did you get into baking?" Sophia hesitated, glancing at the baking guide and recipe book on the counter. "I've always liked baking. Used to make bread for my mom…" Her voice trailed off, and sadness flickered in her eyes before she forced a smile. "I'll steam another basket. Annie and Erza will be hungry when they wake up."
Zack watched her retreat to the kitchen and shook his head with a faint smile. "That girl…"