Chapter 76: Mutated Tiger
Zack waved off the other production lines, leaving behind what others might consider treasures—artillery shells, missiles, grenades, even light armored vehicles. "These are just wastes of materials," Zack muttered dismissively. "Not worth keeping."
For his purposes, large-scale missiles and conventional artillery didn't make sense. His Power armor and mechanical insect were designed to carry compact but powerful micro-missiles. Why waste precious resources on outdated systems? As for armored vehicles? Zack smirked. "High-strength steel is better used for building more mechanical insect."
While Zack was marking the production lines, the massive beast from the forest crept closer to the Armory. Unbeknownst to it, its movements had triggered Ego's sensors. "Sir, I've detected a mutant creature approaching," Ego's calm, robotic voice reported.
"What?" Zack froze mid-step. On his HUD, a three-dimensional model of the beast appeared, pieced together from the scan data. Zack studied the figure closely. "A cat? No... something bigger." His eyes widened as he read the measurements. "Seven meters long? That's no ordinary mutant cat."
Ego's voice came through again. "The target is heading toward the tunnel. Should I engage with Avalon's cannon?"
Zack considered for a moment. If the beast made it into the tunnel, he'd have to deal with it up close—a risky prospect for such a massive creature. "The Avalon's altitude is too low," Zack decided. "Raise it to 100 meters, then fire!"
"Understood, sir," Ego replied. Outside, the Avalon adjusted its position, climbing higher into the sky. The moment it reached 100 meters, the 30mm cannon locked onto the target and opened fire. The thunderous roar of the large-caliber rounds echoed through the mountain range, sending flocks of birds fleeing into the sky. The gunfire reverberated between the two peaks, amplifying the sound like a drumbeat of war.
"RRRAAAAWRRR!!!" The beast's deafening roar cut through the gunfire like a blade, shaking the very ground. As the creature turned, its full form was revealed under the sporadic flashes of cannon fire. A giant mutated tiger, its body covered in thick, scarred hide. On its forehead, the distinctive "King" marking glowed faintly.
The 30mm rounds hit their mark, sparks flying with each impact. But as the flames died down, the damage was shockingly minimal—just shallow wounds oozing thin trails of blood. "Dammit, it's barely scratching it," Zack muttered.