To Space

Each one of them had undergone a complete transformation. Their lobotomies, paired with the serum, had erased their original identities, leaving behind nothing human. To call them men would no longer be accurate. Nanochips implanted in their brains gave them not only combat skills but also tactical coordination, functioning as a second brain that allowed them to think—but only in ways that ensured absolute obedience to Zack's orders. Killing was their purpose. To die in battle, their honor.

"Ego," Zack said, turning to his AI assistant. "Use MV-01 as a template and design eight suits of armor tailored to their size. For weapons, skip the extras. Just equip each of them with a chain sword."

"Understood," Ego replied.

Zack's mind flickered to the future as he watched the eight towering warriors stand at attention. Each would soon be clad in exoskeleton armor made from alloy steel, carrying their indestructible saw chain swords. Enhanced by their nanochip-implanted fighting skills and coordinated tactics, they would become a force unlike anything humanity had seen before.

'Maybe there's still hope for humanity after all,' Zack thought, narrowing his eyes. If this trend continued, perhaps one day he could lead an army of machines and fearless warriors to wipe out the zombie infestation and reclaim Earth from the clutches of the virus.

But his optimism was short-lived. Zack shook his head, forcing himself back to reality. The threats in the ocean alone could destroy everything he had built. Such lofty dreams were still far off. "Focus on what's in front of you," he muttered to himself, brushing away the distracting thoughts. "Ego, what's the status of the space-based weapon module?"

"It's nearly complete, sir. It will be ready by 4 a.m. tomorrow," Ego reported. "Also, your new armor is ready."

"New armor?" Zack asked, momentarily puzzled. Then it clicked. "Oh, you mean project Apex," he said, his impatience returning. "Let's go. I want to try it out."

Before leaving the lab, Zack addressed the eight warriors. "Stay here until your armor is ready. Once it's equipped, we'll begin deployment." "Yes, sir!" they replied in unison once more, their voices booming with unwavering determination.

Satisfied, Zack nodded and left the lab. Back at the basement of Mansion No. 9, Zack's eyes immediately locked onto the sleek new armor on the display rack. Painted in white, gold, and black, the Apex armor stood apart from his other suits. Unlike the other power armor, this one prioritized mobility. Aside from the palm-mounted propulsion pulse cannons, it carried no external weaponry. Instead, it featured an advanced propulsion system, complete with a large thruster backpack on the back.

The armor's exterior was layered with thick black, honeycomb-patterned materials designed to resist heat and radiation, making it ideal for space travel. However, this protection came with a trade-off—the armor's thickness had been reduced to maintain speed, making it unsuitable for combat. "What's its theoretical speed?" Zack asked as he examined the sleek design. If it sacrificed so much for speed, it had better deliver.

"Apex can theoretically reach Mach 8," Ego replied.

Zack was silent for a moment, taking it in. "Good enough. Let's see how fast Mach 8 really feels," he said with a grin.

Once Zack donned the Apex armor, he stepped outside. After running a full system check to ensure all heat-resistant and radiation-proof modules were functioning properly, he couldn't wait any longer. Activating the thrusters, he launched himself skyward like an arrow fired from a bow.

The acceleration was unlike anything he'd experienced. The thrusters roared as they propelled him through the air, breaking the sound barrier within seconds. A deafening boom echoed as he climbed higher and faster.

"Activate the propulsion backpack!" Zack ordered.

The powerful thrusters on his back flared to life, unleashing an explosive burst of energy that sent him rocketing upward. The G-forces were staggering—enough to knock out a normal human instantly. Even Zack, with his enhanced physique, felt the strain as he pushed through the acceleration. "What's my speed?" Zack shouted over the roar of the engines.

"Mach 8.1, sir. You've reached the thruster's endurance limit," Ego reported calmly.

A wide grin spread across Zack's face. "This is incredible!"

The scenery around him blurred as he soared higher, leaving the clouds far behind. Soon, he reached an altitude of 50,000 meters—higher than the legendary Concorde's cruising height. Up here, the air was thin, and the Earth's curve became visible.

Zack looked around in awe. The bright, unfiltered stars stretched endlessly across the dark expanse of space. No city lights, no pollution—just the serene beauty of the cosmos. "This view…" Zack murmured, his voice filled with genuine wonder. "It's something you can never see from the steel jungle below."

"Sir, we're still 790 kilometers away from the LSI satellite. That means you'll get to enjoy this view for a while," Ego quipped, sensing Zack's good mood and deciding to make a light-hearted joke.

Unlike ordinary reconnaissance satellites, the LSI satellite operates at a much higher altitude. While it doesn't reach the dizzying 30,000-kilometer heights of geostationary orbit, it's still far beyond the usual range. In fact, it's over a thousand kilometers above the Earth—more than a million meters!

But with the Apex suit pushing Mach 8.1, it would take less than ten minutes to climb to such an altitude, breaking into low-Earth orbit with ease. The speed was mind-boggling.

However, as a sub-orbital suit, the Apex wasn't capable of achieving escape velocity—the speed required to break free from Earth's gravity, approximately 7.9 kilometers per second, or about Mach 23. "Sir, we're approaching the exosphere," Ego announced.

"The high-temperature resistance and radiation shielding systems are fully operational. Life support is online!"

As the Apex suit climbed higher, intense heat built up around it. The friction generated at such speeds was immense, but the suit's honeycomb-patterned, heat-resistant material easily handled it, keeping the interior unaffected. For several minutes, the searing heat surrounded the suit, glowing like molten metal, until Zack finally breached the atmosphere.

The blazing temperatures vanished, replaced by intense radiation from space. However, the armor's shielding system blocked it completely, allowing Zack to continue his journey without harm. "Is that the LSI satellite?" Zack muttered, gazing at the massive structure in awe.

It was his first time seeing a satellite up close. The intricate design and sheer engineering brilliance made it look like a shining jewel suspended in the void of space. Its solar panels extended outward like luminous wings, reflecting the sunlight brilliantly.

Zack admired the satellite for a while, then turned his gaze downward to the planet below. From a million meters above, Earth looked tranquil and breathtakingly beautiful, as if untouched by chaos.

No matter how much humanity tried to destroy itself.

No matter how rampant the virus had become. For Earth, these struggles were trivial. She remained steadfast, an eternal observer, as countless species rose and fell over time. "Humanity needs Earth, but Earth doesn't need humanity," Zack murmured, a distant look in his eyes.

After a long moment of reflection, he exhaled and straightened. "Alright, let's head back."