SWNOVELXO Chapter 107: Tungsen Rod
The Tyrant Beast retaliated with a heavy punch, reducing another spider to scrap metal in an instant. Sparks and twisted steel littered the battlefield, yet the remaining spiders kept up the assault. Bullets ricocheted wildly, smashing into streetlights, garbage bins, and nearby structures. The chaos left a trail of destruction as the Tyrant Beast roared and charged forward, black fibers coiling and hardening around its arms until they formed massive, hammer-like weapons.
With a swing of its new appendages, the creature crushed another spider, flattening its alloy frame into a warped, sparking mess. High above, Zack watched the carnage unfold. His expression remained cold and analytical as the Tyrant Beast methodically tore through the spiders, drawing closer to Bear Mountain with each step. "Send the mechanical dogs to recover the scrap," Zack instructed.
Despite the destruction, Zack didn't seem bothered. To him, the loss of the spiders wasn't significant. "Steel is still steel. Iron is still iron. It can all be melted down and reused."
Zack's thoughts drifted for a moment as he observed the battlefield. "It's time to expand the army," he murmured. The spiders and dogs had been hastily designed during the last wave of the zombie outbreak. Now, he realized the need for stronger, more capable units. "By the way, is the MV-01 armor for the Warrior ready?" Zack asked.
"Yes, sir. It's been completed," Ego replied.
"Deploy it," Zack said, his voice as cold as ever.
"The Warriors will arrive in twenty-five minutes," Ego confirmed.
Zack frowned slightly. "That's cutting it close."
He said no more, his attention returning to the Tyrant Beast as it smashed through the remaining spiders. The creature was steadily moving away from the city, heading toward Bear Mountain, just as planned.
As the battle spilled onto the lower slopes of Bear Mountain, a chorus of animalistic roars echoed through the air. The mountain, once home to many species, was now overrun with infected, mutated creatures. Sensing the Tyrant Beast's presence, they became agitated, their cries creating a deafening cacophony. "Push it to the summit," Zack commanded.
The remaining spiders obeyed without hesitation. They unleashed another volley of gunfire, forcing the enraged Tyrant Beast to climb higher up the mountain. The Tyrant crushed the last of the spiders beneath its massive claws. Unbeknownst to it, the creature had wandered all the way to the peak of Bear Mountain.
"Roar?" The Tyrant let out a low growl of confusion. The absence of its mechanical pursuers, combined with its sudden arrival at this strange mountaintop, seemed to puzzle it. Despite being an intelligent zombie, it had only recently separated from its mother body. In truth, it was barely an hour old—a newborn with only its instincts to guide it. While it possessed an innate sense of combat and a sharp awareness of danger, the broader situation eluded its understanding.
"ROAR!!!" Its guttural cry echoed through the mountains as it dropped to one knee, preparing to leap off the peak. But before it could act— "Fire the laser!" Zack's calm command rang out, carried by a voice devoid of emotion.
In an instant, beams of red light lanced through the air from the direction of the Tribeca Steel Plant. The lasers struck the Tyrant dead-on, halting it in its tracks. This was no ordinary defense system; it was laser interception weapon. Designed by Zack himself, it had been modified to target ground threats as well as airborne ones. Zack had always thought it a waste to restrict such power to the skies, so he had made sure it could hit ground targets with surgical precision. Bear Mountain, free of urban obstacles, provided the perfect battlefield for the weapon to display its full potential.
"ROAR!!!" The Tyrant's thick, crocodile-like hide withstood the initial assault, the lasers unable to pierce its tough exterior. But the relentless energy beams burned hotter and hotter, eating through its outer defenses layer by layer.
In desperation, the Tyrant relied on its instincts once again. Black fibers began to spill from its back, weaving rapidly into a dome-like shell of hardened material that encased its body like an armored cocoon.
"Oh, so you're trying that trick again..." High above, Zack observed the transformation through his visor, his expression cold and calculating.
"Ego, activate the space-based weapon system."
"Understood. Activating now," replied Ego, the AI assistant.
Thousands of kilometers above the Earth, in low orbit, a satellite quietly came to life. Though not yet fully operational, it was equipped with the essentials Zack needed. Small repair drones, no larger than puppies, detached from the satellite and began to reposition its components. Moments later, the satellite's space-based weapon module deployed. Its design resembled a mechanical octopus, with thousands of parts unfolding to form a powerful electromagnetic railgun. The weapon locked onto its target: the blue planet below.
With a burst of energy, the railgun launched its payload—a tungsten rod. Measuring 30 centimeters thick, over six meters long, and weighing several tons, the projectile was propelled forward at incredible speed, reaching Mach 6 as it exited the satellite. As it hurtled toward the Earth, the rod accelerated under gravity, its speed climbing higher and higher. By the time it breached the atmosphere, it had become a blazing streak of fire in the sky, resembling a meteor as it descended straight toward Bear Mountain.
"ROAR!!!" Sensing the impending danger, the Tyrant roared again, its voice filled with desperation. The black shell around its body shifted slightly, as though trying to move. But the intense laser beams continued to pin it in place, their searing heat preventing any escape.
Above, the tungsten rod streaked closer and closer, a burning spear of destruction slicing through the sky. With a deafening boom, it struck the mountain. The impact unleashed a dazzling explosion of light. The black shell that had protected the Tyrant crumbled like brittle paper under the tungsten rod's immense force. The creature's body, once a towering monstrosity, was torn apart in an instant. Its fibrous tissue dissolved completely, leaving no trace behind.
The rod's momentum didn't stop there. It drilled deep into the Earth, carving through layers of rock and soil as a massive shockwave erupted outward. Bear Mountain itself couldn't withstand the force—most of its structure was obliterated, with thousands of tons of debris flung high into the air. A mushroom cloud of dirt and stone rose into the sky, visible for miles around.
The shockwaves rippled far beyond the mountain, shaking the entirety of NYC City and the surrounding regions. Windows shattered, buildings trembled, and survivors clung to whatever they could as the earth rumbled beneath their feet. The tremors lasted for several minutes before finally subsiding.