Annie grabbed the paper and tried to tear it. She yanked on it several times, but despite her efforts, it didn't budge. The thin layer of nano-alloy gel covering it was far stronger than it appeared.
"Here, let me try," Zack said, taking the paper from her. He pulled with all his strength, and after a moment of struggle, managed to create a small tear.
"Looks like it worked," he said, satisfied. He picked up a utility knife and scraped the surface, which made a sharp, metallic sound.
"Perfect!" Zack murmured, a pleased smile on his face. After several failed attempts, he'd finally succeeded in creating a reliable nano-alloy gel.
"Is this for the armor?" Annie asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Not quite," Zack replied, grinning. "The armor's already strong enough. This gel is actually for reinforcing the Mansion's defenses." He paused, the grin fading slightly. "It'll make the entire place a lot harder to break into."
"Got it. You've gone over all the blueprints, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think I'm good," she said, nodding.
"Good. Let's start with the transmission mechanism," Zack said, leading her over to the workbench and gathering the necessary materials.
For the next two days, Zack and Annie worked nonstop in the basement, assembling the complex parts of the new armor. While Zack was eager to keep going, he made sure Annie took regular breaks. He knew that if she worked too long without rest, she'd wear herself out.
When Annie took her breaks, Zack didn't sit idle. He used the time to spray the nano-alloy gel over the Mansion's exterior walls and around the perimeter of the community. The treated walls became incredibly smooth and practically impossible to climb. He also reinforced the gate, turning it into an electric entry system with facial recognition, courtesy of Ego. Only authorized individuals could enter now—zombies or intruders would be stopped in their tracks.
Mansion No. 9, where Zack lived, had become a fortress. High-voltage rods lined every meter of the courtyard wall, capable of delivering tens of thousands of volts to anyone who tried to get over. To power this massive setup, Zack also upgraded the Mansion's power supply.
He didn't stop there—he installed several automatic turrets along the perimeter, each connected to cameras that would detect and engage any threats. While most of the turrets were empty for now, he equipped a few with his homemade nail guns, ideal for silently taking down small groups of zombies. After all the upgrades, the Mansion was practically impenetrable—except for one big problem: power. If the electricity went out, all the defenses would be useless.
"Time is running out," Zack muttered, looking at the nearly finished MV-02 armor. With a sigh, he picked up a welding torch and went back to work.
By the third morning, as sunlight streamed through the basement window, Zack completed the final components of MV-02.
"Sir, you haven't slept for 52 hours," Ego's voice gently reminded him.
"Relax, Ego," Zack replied with a chuckle. "I'm wide awake." He couldn't take his eyes off the gleaming armor in front of him. MV-02—his first true steel combat suit—was the start of his vision for a powerful new age.
"This baby would be even better with a Gatling gun," he mused, running his hand over the armor. As impressive as it was, Zack's ultimate goal was to turn it into a real war machine, something truly ready for the challenges of a post-apocalyptic world.
Although the armor was missing the old Fusion Reactor, it was still ready for action. Eight detachable high-energy graphene batteries were installed on its back, providing enough power for 48 hours—a huge improvement over his previous designs.
Compared to the MV-01, MV-02 had an arm blade and a web shooter for close combat. The suit was plated in chrome-titanium alloy, with arc pulse cannons in each palm that also acted as stabilizers for flight. Foot jets were in place, ready for the addition of the Cold Fusion Reactor, which would unlock the suit's full potential. For now, Zack could swap out the batteries, but once the reactor was installed, everything would change.
To prepare for his upcoming mission, he'd applied three layers of anti-radiation coating on the armor. This would shield both him and the suit from nuclear exposure, which was essential for his planned trip to the nuclear plant.
"Sir, please take some rest for your health," Ego urged again, this time with more insistence.
"Alright, alright," Zack replied, reluctantly tearing his gaze from the MV-02. He made his way upstairs and finally allowed himself to sleep.
He awoke hours later, feeling fully refreshed despite having pushed his body to its limits. Working nonstop had become second nature to him, and his body had adapted.
Feeling rejuvenated, Zack took a deep breath, knowing that he was one step closer to making his vision a reality. The real journey was about to begin. Since the virus outbreak, Zack rarely felt tired—he was always full of energy, no matter what he did. Today, he decided to check his physical condition.
"Ego, scan my physical state."
A moment later, Ego reported back. "Sir, your body is in excellent health. All indicators are at peak levels."
"How does it compare to the last scan?"
"Your readings have improved by approximately 30% since the last check."
"Anything abnormal?"
"None detected," Ego replied calmly.
Feeling reassured, Zack nodded. He wasn't sure what was causing these improvements, but with no negative side effects, he wasn't about to complain.
"Let's move fast," he muttered, checking the time. "We've got one day before the power goes out. I need to secure the materials for the Cold Fusion Reactor."
Zack quickly went downstairs, greeted Sophia, grabbed a few packs of compressed biscuits for the road, and headed back to the basement. Annie was already hard at work, running tests on the MV-02.
"How's it going?" Zack asked.
"Brother?" Annie looked up, surprised. "The main functions are good. I'm working on the weapons system now."
"No need for that," Zack said, waving his hand. "Sometimes, you just have to dive into action. Let's jump straight into a combat test."
Annie looked a bit confused, but she helped him suit up. Unlike the simple MV-01, the complex MV-02 required assistance to wear. Without a robotic arm to help, Annie's hands were essential.
Once the final component clicked into place, the internal fittings tightened automatically. The suit was on, and Ego synced with it instantly.
"Excellent, no lag," Zack said, flexing his joints. He jogged around the basement, noting how the suit made him feel even faster than his natural speed.
The MV-02's advanced nerve conduction let him feel the suit's immense power as he clenched his fists. "This is true exoskeleton armor!" he muttered, grinning.