Future Plans

Unlike the armor, Avalon didn't come equipped with a built-in buffer system. In simpler terms, every ounce of G-force from the rapid acceleration hit Zack directly and without mercy. "Man, this G-force is no joke…" Even with the protection of his nanosuit, Zack couldn't help but feel a little queasy.

"Wait a minute, are all future pilots built like mutant?" he muttered, genuinely impressed.

If even he, someone used to high-pressure situations, was feeling the strain, wouldn't an ordinary person have passed out by now? "Sir, the flight manual specifically states that acceleration should be gradual when taking off," Ego chimed in, its tone laced with what Zack could only describe as subtle exasperation.

"Manual? Oh… right, that thing." Zack scratched his head awkwardly. "I might've skimmed over that part."

Shrugging it off, he switched the Avalon to autopilot, reclining in his seat to admire the view. The sight of the Earth below, stretched out in all its vastness, offered a perspective few got to see. After a tense half-hour flight, the Avalon approached the mountainous area that housed the Armory.

As the destination came into view, Zack toggled off autopilot, gripping the controls.

Vertical take-off and landing made flying the Avalon ridiculously user-friendly, even for a rookie like him. "Alright, switch to flight mode for landing..." Zack muttered to himself as he followed the manual's instructions. Slowly but surely, Avalon began a smooth vertical descent.

The height dropped gradually, and soon the weed-covered parking lot outside the abandoned factory was in sight. But in the shadows of the dense forest nearby, a pair of glowing, blood-red eyes tracked the descending aircraft. "Sir! I've detected signs of a large mutated creature nearby!" Ego's voice cut through the cockpit, its tone carrying an urgent warning.

Zack frowned. "You said the same thing last time," he replied skeptically, leaning forward to peer out of the cockpit window. From what he could see, the parking lot was empty, save for weeds and rusted debris.

"Sir, please observe the data," Ego insisted, projecting the scan results onto the display.

Zack's eyes narrowed. A series of massive footprints, each measuring 56 centimeters in diameter, appeared on the screen. Their distinct 'plum petal' pattern left no doubt—this belonged to a feline predator, and a colossal one at that.

"Big guy, huh…" Zack's expression turned serious. Judging by the size of those prints, the creature had to be at least five meters tall. "Keep Avalon hovering. Don't land until I figure out what's out there," Zack ordered.

"Understood, Sir," Ego replied.

Without another word, Zack grabbed his chain sword, slung it over his shoulder, and headed to the cargo hold. He opened the rear hatch, letting the roaring wind fill the interior. "Hey, Ego, what's our altitude?" Zack asked.

"165 meters," the AI replied promptly.

"Lower it to 50 meters." Avalon smoothly descended until it hovered at a height equivalent to an 18-story building. "Alright, this is going to be fun," Zack said with a grin, glancing down at the ground far below. Then, without hesitation, he jumped. The wind howled past his ears as he plummeted, the rush of air making his nanosuit vibrate slightly.

Boom!

Zack landed in a classic superhero pose, his knee slamming into the cement and cracking the already overgrown surface. A small crater formed beneath him. "Still looks cool, still wrecks my knees," he muttered, brushing off the dust as he stood, chain sword in hand.

After making sure there was no immediate threat, Zack looked back at the Avalon hovering above. "Alright, release the bugs."

Following his command, ten mechanical Ants leapt from Avalon. However, their lightweight design made them prone to damage, and Zack knew the drop might be too much for them. "Gotcha! And you! And you too!" Zack shouted as he dashed forward, catching each bug mid-air with precision. 

Despite their awkward tumbles, all ten landed safely in his hands. "Alright, let's go," he said, waving his hand as he led the way toward the Armory. The mechanical Ants skittered behind him like obedient pets.

A week had passed since Zack last visited, and the Armory looked even more abandoned than before. Rust had spread over the tunnel doors, and the surrounding area was eerily quiet. Standing at the tunnel entrance, Zack's gaze landed on a pile of gnawed animal bones scattered inside. His voice turned cold. "Looks like something made itself comfortable here."

The last time he and Erza were here, the tunnels had been choked with vines, deterring any mutant creatures. Now, with the vines cleared out, the area seemed to have become a hunting ground. Zack stepped cautiously into the tunnel, the sound of his boots echoing off the walls. Along the way, he passed countless shattered bones, each bearing the marks of powerful jaws.

"Whoever's been staying here has some serious bite strength," Zack mused, shaking his head. The tunnel eventually led to the steelmaking plant, where everything was just as they'd left it. The rusted door was slightly ajar, and the truck Zack had pushed into position last time remained untouched.

"It's pitch black in here. Ego, switch to night vision," Zack instructed.

The green-tinged display illuminated his surroundings, revealing the factory's dilapidated state in stark detail. "Man, I really need to invest in full-color night vision," Zack muttered, making his way deeper into the plant.

In the dense forest outside the tunnel, a massive creature, nearly five meters tall, moved forward with a chilling stealth. It barely made a sound as its enormous body blended seamlessly with the shadows of the trees. Unless someone was specifically looking for it, they'd never notice its presence.

"Rrrr..." The beast's guttural breath carried the metallic tang of blood as it exhaled.

When it neared the Armory, it suddenly halted, its cruel eyes scanning the area. First, it glanced at the Air Fortress hovering above the treetops. Then, it turned its attention to the tunnel Zack had entered earlier. Finally, after a tense pause, it made its decision—choosing its prey carefully.

Inside the Armory, Zack inspected the factory layout. Everything was just as he remembered. His expression eased. "Looks like the mutated creatures didn't manage to get in here," he muttered, walking around to ensure there were no surprises. Satisfied it was safe, he turned to the ten mechanical Ants behind him.

"Alright, dismantle the production lines I marked and get the parts shipped out!" As he spoke, Zack highlighted a few specific sections of the Armory on his HUD. Most of the marked lines were for producing high-demand ammunition, like armor-piercing rounds and incendiary bombs.

"We can't afford to keep these operations so far out," Zack said to himself. "Even with a supersonic jet, it takes an hour and a half to make a round trip. In the middle of a war, that's just not going to cut it. Supplies would never keep up." His plan was simple: relocate the key production lines to a factory closer to his steelmaking plant. That area was quickly becoming his base of operations, and for good reason.

First, the proximity meant supplies could be replenished swiftly. Second, if there was ever a problem, Zack could respond within minutes. The steelmaking plant was shaping up to be the backbone of his future plans, a hub for industry and innovation.