Chapter 42: Zombie Wave (4)
As Erza's group retreated, Zack stood his ground, determined to hold the line against the relentless wave of undead. The Vulcan's thunderous roar echoed through the street, each burst of fire carving fiery paths through the advancing horde. Spent bullet casings rained down around him, piling up like a miniature hill at his feet. His bullets tore through the zombies, shredding them to pieces, with each shot punching through several bodies at once. Smoke and the stench of gore thickened the air as the battlefield became a gruesome mess of shattered limbs and mangled corpses.
"Ego, I'm almost out of ammo!" Zack shouted over the chaos, glancing at the dwindling rounds in the massive magazine strapped to his back. Even with his custom modifications to expand its capacity, the Vulcan's insatiable appetite for bullets left him with only minutes of firepower. Fortunately, he had designed the magazine to be quickly detachable for reloading.
"Reinforcements are en route, sir!" Ego's calm voice replied through his helmet. Almost on cue, a transport helicopter appeared over the skyline, its rotors slicing through the air. The cargo hold carried nine mechanical dogs, fifteen spiders, and crates filled with fresh ammunition. Five of the spiders had been stationed at the Mansion to guard it, leaving the rest for frontline deployment.
Zack's HUD lit up with a notification of an incoming signal on an unfamiliar frequency. "Sir, someone is trying to connect. Should I patch it through?" Ego prompted.
"Yes, let's hear it," Zack said, and a steady, authoritative voice crackled through his earpiece.
"This is Antonny, captain of the air force," the man introduced himself without hesitation. "I'm launching an artillery strike fifty meters ahead of your position. Clear the area—three seconds!"
Zack's sharp ears picked up the low hum of incoming jets. Within moments, the ground erupted as a barrage of 30mm rounds slammed into the street. The shells exploded on impact, sending zombies flying in all directions, creating a brief but welcome break in the endless horde. The road ahead was left cratered and smoldering, the remains of the zombies scattered in every direction.
"Now that's firepower," Zack muttered with a hint of admiration, watching the devastation. Keying his comms, he responded, "Antonny, you focus on the main horde. I'll handle things here."
"You sure you can manage on your own?" Antonny asked, his tone tinged with genuine concern, recognizing a kindred spirit in Zack.