LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 130: Earth is Done For?
When mutants like him first awakened their abilities, many of them dreamed of becoming invincible, superhero-like figures straight out of the movies. Reality, however, was a harsh teacher. Mutants weren't as powerful as they imagined. Their numbers were limited, with only one or two emerging per 8,000 to 10,000 people. And even among them, abilities ranged from impressive to utterly useless. Combat-ready mutants were rare, and even fewer could withstand bullets. "Damn traitors," the burly man growled, clenching his fists. "They sold their souls to Kane for scraps."
A young woman, hot-tempered and full of fire, jumped in, cursing loudly. "I can't believe those dogs got powers while decent people like us are left to suffer! It's like fate's got it out for us!"
The group of rebels, a ragtag band of about a dozen mutants, had resisted Kane's rule. Unlike most mutants in the Washington base, they refused to join him despite the tempting promise of food, comfort, and luxury. Instead, they lived in a crumbling prefab house, surviving on rations and determination. "If Kane runs, his pack of lapdogs will follow him," a quiet girl wearing glasses remarked, breaking the tense silence.
"What about the 600,000 survivors in the base?" the fiery girl asked, her voice trembling with frustration.
The girl with glasses, known to everyone as Scarlett, adjusted her frames and sighed. "That's the problem. Kane's locked down all information. We don't even know how large the zombie horde is."
"Scarlett, you're the smartest one here. You must have a plan," the burly man urged.
Scarlett hesitated, her calm demeanor masking the weight of the situation. "If Kane had a way to stop the horde, he wouldn't be planning to run. He loves his life here too much. The fact that he's ready to flee means the horde must be massive—easily over 20 million." Her words sent a shiver through the room.
"That can't be right," the fiery girl stammered. "How could there be that many?"
"Think about it," Scarlett continued, her voice steady but grim. "Kane's not stupid. He's calculated every option, even nukes. If he's ready to abandon the base, it's because no method can stop them."
The group fell silent, the weight of Scarlett's conclusion settling in. "Even if everyone in the base fought, we'd still lose," Scarlett added. "This… this might really be the end."
While despair gripped the Washington DC base, the atmosphere in NYC was entirely different. Under Zack's leadership, the city buzzed with activity, a stark contrast to the chaos elsewhere. Every resource was mobilized. Over 300 manufacturing bots worked tirelessly, supported by mechanical beasts, churning out Avalon transport planes one after another.
The steel mill blazed day and night, recasting endless streams of metal. The military factory operated non-stop, producing mountains of ammunition that filled warehouse after warehouse. NYC wasn't preparing to run—it was gearing up for war. "Where's the horde now?" Zack would ask daily, keeping a close eye on the situation. Each time, Ego provided updates, and Zack continued working without pause.
Days later, the Titan Armor was completed. The specialized suit, carried in modules on a modified Avalon, could be deployed mid-air, allowing Zack to equip it seamlessly. "Sir, the zombie horde has reached Pittsburgh and will arrive in Washington, D.C., within 12 hours," Ego reported one morning.
Zack stood in silence for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, his voice cut through the air like steel. "It's time. How many Avalon units do we currently have?" Zack asked in a deep, calm voice.
"Sir, there are 21 Avalon multipurpose fighters and one Avalon F2 currently operational," replied Ego, his AI assistant. Though the Aegis project isn't complete yet, its prototype—the Avalon F2—has already been manufactured. Ava, a highly skilled pilot, is currently operating it. This cold and calculating woman adapted quickly to the immense power and performance of the second-generation Avalon. The Avalon F2 combines sleek aerodynamics with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. Its streamlined improvements have pushed its top speed to an astonishing Mach 7.5—far exceeding initial expectations and approaching the performance of advanced spacefaring craft.
To ensure Ava could handle the extreme acceleration of the Avalon F2, Zack mandated that both she and Sophia undergo injections of a modified super-soldier serum. Unlike Zack, whose own injection had caused a dramatic increase in height and muscle mass, the serum had a subtler effect on them. Their physical capabilities were enhanced without altering their appearance significantly.
The only notable change was their flawless skin. Before, even the most beautiful faces have imperfections, no matter how small. But now, both Sophia and Ava appeared unnaturally perfect—like living works of art, surpassing any digitally enhanced celebrity image. Zack, overwhelmed by the transformation, found himself struggling to stay composed. "Ava, you'll lead the mechanical army and handle the escort operation," Zack commanded firmly.
"Understood," Ava replied. Her tone, while still reserved, lacked the icy detachment she once had.
Soon, Avalon transport planes loaded with mechanical legions departed NYC Base. Following them was the Avalon F2, piloted by Ava, accompanied by five automated MV-03 armors. The fleet of over thirty flying units set out, their formation dominating the skies. It was a force powerful enough to challenge a nation's military strength—even before the apocalypse. "This is the first mission for the mechanical army. Don't let me down," Zack muttered as he watched the fleet disappear into the horizon.
This deployment consisted of only a portion of Zack's forces: 100 Spiders, 50 Mechanical Dogs, 2 Goliath, and all 5 automated MV-03 armors. The rest of the mechanical units were left behind to defend NYC Base. "You can't fight a war and leave your home undefended," Zack had decided, prioritizing both offense and security.
"Ego, what's the status of the zombie wave?" he asked, turning his attention back to the immediate threat.
"Sir, the vanguard of the zombie horde has passed through Pittsburgh City and will reach Washington DC in approximately eight hours," Ego reported.
"A vanguard, huh? Pull up satellite images—I want to see the scale of this horde," Zack instructed, curiosity piqued.
Within moments, the satellite feed appeared before him. Unlike regular snapshots, the images came from Anne-1, Zack's satellite stationed 35,000 kilometers above Earth. The display spanned the entire northern hemisphere of the planet. "Wait… what's that black mass covering the surface?" Zack asked, his instincts immediately on high alert.
Then it hit him. "That's the zombie horde?!" The wave of undead stretched for hundreds of kilometers, a massive, black tide swallowing cities in its path. "If this keeps up, they'll bulldoze everything in their way," Zack muttered, stunned by the realization.
"Indeed, sir," Ego responded gravely. "If no action is taken, the horde will reach NYC Base within days."
The grim scale of the apocalypse became clear. Humanity had once numbered seven billion, but overnight, 80% had turned into zombies—over 5.6 billion infected. Including subsequent casualties and mutations, the global zombie population exceeded six billion. This northern horde, comprising tens of millions, was just one of many such swarms that could form. Adding to the chaos were the mutated land animals and aquatic life forms, which posed their own threats. Zack exhaled sharply. "This planet is done for. Maybe it's time to find a new one."
He muttered the words half-jokingly, but the overwhelming challenge before him was no laughing matter. "Sir, I do have blueprints and information related to spaceships and interstellar migration stored in my database," Ego responded honestly to Zack's joking remark.