LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 131: Vish and Andre
"Alright, alright, I was just kidding," Zack said, shaking his head to dismiss the thought. Then, in a deeper tone, he added, "Call Lillian over. I've got a mission for her."
"Yes, Sir," Ego confirmed without hesitation. A short while later, Lillian entered the room, clad in her sleek black combat armor. Her presence was as sharp as the blade she wielded. "Master, you called for me?" she said, kneeling on one knee in respect.
Zack gave a small nod and handed her a photograph. "This is your target," he said. "Eliminate him."
Lillian took the photo, quickly scanning the image of Kane, the current leader of the Washington DC base. "Kane?" she muttered, instantly recognizing the round-faced man in the picture.
"You know him?" Zack asked casually.
"Yes," Lillian replied, her voice calm. "I crossed paths with him during my days in business. He was one of my competitors, and his methods were… underhanded, to say the least."
Zack leaned back slightly, observing her. "He's now in charge of the Washington DC base, surrounded by heavy security, including mutants. Can you handle it?"
"Guaranteed," Lillian replied without hesitation. Before she became Zack's most formidable warrior, Lillian had dealt with countless men like Kane. Now, with her abilities enhanced far beyond human limits, this mission was almost trivial. Her reinforced body could withstand incredible damage, and her strength and speed surpassed even Zack's enhanced attributes. Combined with her energy-based weaponry that could slice through nearly anything, Lillian was an unstoppable force.
"Take the Phoenix," Zack instructed. "It's prepped and ready for you."
The Phoenix, a modified aircraft built from a Avalon platform, had been enhanced specifically for high-risk missions. The name Phoenix came from ancient mythology, symbolizing indomitable strength—an aspiration Zack had when designing it. "Understood," Lillian replied. Without another word, she turned and headed toward the launch pad.
The Phoenix, larger and more imposing than standard transports, featured detachable modules that could transform into auxiliary combat units. It was a flying fortress designed to adapt to any situation. As the transport lifted off vertically and surged northward, Ego's voice broke the silence. "Sir, while I understand you don't like to listen to me, I feel obligated to mention… the Titan modules have not undergone proper testing. Using them in combat isn't advisable."
Zack smirked. "Ego, let's not have this conversation again. I know exactly what you're going to say."
"Of course, sir," Ego replied dryly. "At this point, you'd usually remind me that we should learn to run before we learn to walk."
Zack chuckled. "You know me too well, old friend."
After a brief moment of levity, Zack's face turned serious. "Alright, it's time to move out. Annie and the others will hold the base, and with the mechanical units in place, there shouldn't be any issues."
Zack suited up in the Apex exosuit. As the thrusters roared to life, he shot into the sky, breaking the sound barrier almost instantly.
Inside the mansion, Annie stood by the window, watching him disappear into the horizon. She pouted. "Sister Sophia, my brother is so unfair! He never takes me along."
Sophia, sitting nearby with a book, glanced at her with mild amusement. "You've been out once. I've only been out twice. Quit complaining."
"But Sis, it's not fair!" Annie whined, flopping onto the couch dramatically. "I've got the reactor installed, and I can fly just like you! But he still won't let me join. He even took Erza this time and left me behind!"
Sophia sighed, setting her book down. "Your brother has his reasons. Besides, he said you and Erza are mutants, so injecting you with enhancements could cause unpredictable side effects. For now, it's better to stay safe."
Annie perked up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Sophia. "But Sister Sophia, your skin is so perfect now. I want that too!"
Sophia pretended to push her away with a look of mock disgust but then pulled her into a warm hug. "Alright, alright, stop being so dramatic. You can go guard the best, it's also very important task!" Sophia said with a serious expression, leaning back slightly in her chair. Her mind wandered back to the pre-apocalypse days when she and her friends used to play games. One friend would head out to battle while Sophia stayed behind, guarding their base.
"Really?" Annie tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Then, as if making a vow, she declared, "Alright then, I'll guard the base perfectly!" She paused, grinning mischievously. "I'm putting on Tarantula!"
Before Sophia could stop her, Annie had already skipped out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the stairs. "This girl…" Sophia muttered, shaking her head with a soft smile. Watching Annie's energetic departure was like a ray of light in the darkness of their world. In these grim times, having someone so lively around was a blessing.
Once Annie was gone, the smile faded from Sophia's face. She walked over to the window, leaned her head against the glass, and stared northward. Zack hadn't told them the exact scale of the zombie horde, but based on his demeanor and the fact that he had dispatched over twenty Avalons, she could tell it wasn't just a minor threat. "The battle on Capital isn't as simple as he made it sound," Sophia murmured to herself. She clasped her hands together tightly. "Zack, you have to come back safely. You're the only family I have left."
Far to the north, a transport plane roared across the pre-apocalypse border, entering us airspace and heading straight for NYC City. Its purpose was unknown. Inside the plane, a group of large, burly men sat in silence. Some were soldiers armed to the teeth, while others were mutants.
The Kamchatka Tundra region had the highest concentration of shapeshifting mutants in the world. Unlike typical mutants, shapeshifters didn't require years of training to harness their abilities. Their combat potential was immense from the moment they awakened. This particular transport carried ten shapeshifters: six hulking bears, one Siberian tiger, and three wolves. Alongside them were heavily armed soldiers outfitted in crude exoskeleton armor, designed to enhance their strength and endurance.
While Zack's advanced suits of armor were decades ahead of these clunky exoskeletons, the bear-men treated their gear like precious treasures. For them, even this rudimentary technology was a game-changer. "Vish, where are we now?" Andre, the Siberian tiger shapeshifter and leader of the group, asked in a booming voice that echoed through the cabin.
The pilot, Vish, glanced back nervously. "Chief Andre, we're approaching Washington, there's a large base there. They might have anti-aircraft defenses. Should we take a detour?"
Andre frowned, his brow furrowing. "Take the detour. Without satellite support, we can't risk a miscommunication leading to our plane being shot down."
"Understood," Vish replied, adjusting their course slightly.
One of the younger wolf shapeshifters approached Andre hesitantly. "Chief, do you think this mission will work?" he asked, his voice shaky. Before the apocalypse, he'd been a college student. Now, the idea of a real combat mission made him nervous.
Andre placed a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry. We've studied NYC City carefully. Based on satellite intel before we lost them, the base relies heavily on machines. They have fewer than ten super soldiers, and only one person with notable abilities—a woman who controls fire."