SWNOVELXO Chapter 105: Tyrant Beast
With a firm press of the red trigger button on her controls, the Avalon's cannon fired. Thud-thud-thud-thud!
30×173 mm depleted armor-piercing rounds rained down like a storm of molten fury. These rounds, tested and proven by Zack, generated temperatures exceeding 6,000 degrees Celsius upon impact—enough to melt all but the thickest ultranium alloy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The barrage tore through the ground beneath the creature, leaving scorched craters in its wake. The powerful shells hit the armored target with devastating force, sending it hurtling back over ten meters, its massive body rolling across the debris-strewn ground. The once-indestructible black exoskeleton shattered under the relentless assault. Holes punched clean through its body, the exposed tissue melting into steaming liquid that dripped onto the ground.
"Target number two is down. Switching to target number one." From Ava's vantage point, the insect-armored creature appeared neutralized. She refocused her aim on the Mutated Lord, locking onto its hulking, bruised form. But before she could fire, something unexpected happened.
"ROAR!!!" The supposed corpse of target number two let out a furious bellow. Its body convulsed as the fibrous tissue began to writhe and expand. Four meters. Five meters. Six meters.
In moments, the creature's size doubled. Its blade-like arms morphed into long, whip-like tentacles, each ending in massive, clawed hands. "What the hell is this?!" Ava's voice wavered for a split second as the monstrous monster rose to its full, towering height. It roared again, swinging one tentacle-arm upward. The appendage stretched unnaturally, elongating like rubber as it reached for the Avalon.
"Pull up! Pull up!" Ava yanked the controls, forcing the Avalon into a steep climb. But she wasn't fast enough. The creature's claws scraped the underside of the aircraft, leaving five deep gashes in its belly.
Back at the lab, Zack was immersed in his work when the satellite feed of the area appeared on his monitor. He had set strict protocols for the Ant and Spiders: handle minor threats independently and only report critical situations.
Now, watching the chaos unfold on-screen, Zack realized this was far from minor. The battlefield had reached full-blown crisis levels. The feed showed Ava engaged in a desperate aerial retreat while the monstrous, mutated Beast wreaked havoc. Sparks, fire, and destruction littered the area as Ant and Spiders fell one by one. The Mutated Lord, still active but severely weakened, lumbered through the wreckage.
"Sir, an advanced mutant zombie has been detected!" Ego's calm voice echoed through Zack's lab, breaking his focus as the satellite feed displayed the chaos at the area.
"Temporary designation: Tyrant Beast. It's already destroyed five Ant and Spiders! Ava is on-site with the Avalon but hasn't been able to neutralize it." As Ego delivered its report, Zack's eyes remained fixed on the screen. The devastation left by the Tyrant Beast was evident.
"Sir, the Tyrant Beast's body demonstrates an extraordinary capacity for rapid adaptive changes, shifting its physiology to match environmental and combat demands," Ego reported. "Current observations indicate several distinct forms. The first, an insect-like exoskeleton, provides formidable defense, withstanding tungsten-core bullets and micro-missiles. However, it was shattered by depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds, indicating some limits to its resilience.
Another form includes bladed arms, which have been observed slicing through 3-5mm alloy steel with alarming efficiency. Their effectiveness against gold-titanium alloys remains untested, leaving uncertainties about the extent of their cutting power. Its tentacle-whip claws can extend up to 80-100 meters, tipped with razor-sharp claws capable of tearing through alloy steel armor. The range and precision of these appendages suggest a focus on long-range lethality.
Finally, the creature occasionally assumes a gigantic form, though its purpose remains unclear. It may serve as a reserve for power, intimidation, or unknown offensive capabilities." Ego continued, the data streams pulsing with urgency. "Preliminary analysis also suggests the Tyrant Beast originated from a massive aggregation of mutated zombies at the warehouse
Zack cut in, his voice cold and firm. "So, this thing… it's another Sarcoma? Like the other sentient Zombie?"
"Yes, Sir." Zack's jaw tightened as he recalled the last time he encountered such a monstrosity. Years ago, he'd found a similar one at a nuclear power plant. He'd destroyed it on sight, never giving it a chance to grow. Yet here it was again—another Sarcoma, hidden deep within NYC.
"What's the difference between this Tyrant and the leader of the last zombie wave?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"The leader was a high-level zombie bred from a similar Sarcoma, Sir. However, analysis indicates a social structure among advanced zombies, akin to ants or bees. The leader acts as the 'brain,' commanding other types of zombies, while the Tyrant Beast appears to function as a specialized combat fighter."
Zack nodded, the explanation making sense. "Understood. Notify all Ant and Spiders in the city. Climb the tallest nearby buildings and prepare for bombardment."
Hundreds of Ant and Spiders scattered across the city streets immediately responded to Zack's command. Their sleek, metal forms moved swiftly through alleys and open roads, heading for high-rise structures near the area. Once in position, they fixed themselves to the rooftops, shedding their back armor to reveal missile nests aimed toward the locatioon.
Even Ant and Spiders out of range sprinted toward closer buildings, ensuring maximum coverage. Zack's strategy was clear—stay out of reach while raining destruction from above. "Ego, contact Ava. Tell her to climb higher and prepare for a cloud bomb drop."
"Sir, the place still contains valuable supplies. Are you sure?" Ego asked cautiously.
"I didn't say drop it now," Zack snapped, strapping into the Apex suit. The thrusters roared to life, propelling him out of the Mansion and toward the battlefield.
Meanwhile, chaos raged on. The Tyrant Beast, now towering at six meters tall, roared as it swung its whip-like claws at Ava's Avalon.
Whoosh! Boom!
Each swipe cracked through the air like a sonic boom, the ends of the claws moving faster than the speed of sound. "Ava here. Gaining altitude as ordered!"
Without hesitation, Ava pulled the Avalon into a sharp climb, leaving the Tyrant Beast thrashing below. Enraged, the creature turned its attention to the remaining Ant and Spiders scattered around the area. "ROAR!!!" Its hulking frame barreled toward a nearby building, slamming into its side with unstoppable force.
CRASH!
The wall crumbled instantly, the entire structure collapsing in a deafening roar of rubble and dust. A mechanical dog stationed on the rooftop fell with the debris but used its balance systems to leap across the falling wreckage. Before it could escape, a massive claw shot out from the dust cloud, wrapping around the mechanical dog and dragging it close.
CRUNCH!
The Tyrant Beast's foot came down hard, crushing the machine into a flattened disk of metal and sparks. Dust swirling around it, the Tyrant Beast let out another ear-splitting roar, its glowing eyes locking onto the remaining Ant and Spiders.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Ant and Spiders had reached their designated rooftops. Each one was firmly fixed in place, missile nests fully deployed and aimed at the Tyrant Beast's location. Zack hovered above them in the Apex, his expression cold and resolute. "Fire."