Chapter 128: The Legion Horde
Before landing, Zack caught sight of two towering steel giants standing silently on the runway below. From a distance, they looked like ancient, otherworldly gods draped in metallic armor, their massive forms radiating an aura of destruction, as if they could tear the world apart at any moment.
As the aircraft descended, Zack's awe grew stronger. The giants, named Goliath, stood at a staggering 8.8 meters tall—far exceeding their original design of 5.6 meters due to some structural modifications. At their feet, Zack felt truly dwarfed, barely reaching a third of their height. His gaze traveled up their immense mechanical bodies to the two colossal 50mm Vulcan cannons mounted in place of arms.
The sheer size of the cannons was mind-blowing. A 20mm caliber was already classified as artillery, but 50mm? That could easily fit a grown man's fist into the barrel. Aside from the weapons, the Goliath' overall design was as intimidating as it was functional—rugged and straightforward. Their "heads," which housed high-sensitivity sensor systems, were embedded in their chests, shielded by layers of thick alloy armor. Meanwhile, less critical components were left exposed, giving them a raw, brutalist aesthetic.
Where a conventional head might sit, the Goliath instead featured a 20-unit missile launcher loaded with armor-piercing missiles designed to obliterate fortified structures. "Does this thing even move?" Zack muttered, skeptical despite being its creator. The sheer size made him question if the Cold Fusion reactor could handle the job."Sir, the Titan isn't capable of flight, but for ground operations, the Cold Fusion reactor is more than sufficient," Ego, his AI companion, assured him.
Relieved, Zack gave the command. "Power them up." At his words, the Goliath, which had been eerily still, suddenly roared to life. The ground trembled as their massive frames began to move. With the hum of rotating machinery, their sensor assemblies—glowing like menacing red eyes—lit up, bathing their surroundings in an ominous scarlet glow. "Goliath online. Awaiting combat instructions," came a chilling, synthesized voice from their internal speakers.
"Holy crap..." Zack breathed, his excitement surging. "Who could stand against this?"
The sight of the Goliath towering before him stirred something primal. These weren't just machines—they were walking fortresses, mechanical juggernauts designed for total domination. "We'll start by testing their combat capabilities," Zack said, unable to contain his impatience. He'd momentarily forgotten about the unmanned armors waiting for activation in the hangar.
"Sir, the unmanned armors are still offline," Ego reminded him.
"Oh, right. Activate those too," Zack said, snapping back to reality. Moments later, the sound of thrusters filled the air as five unmanned armors emerged from a nearby hangar. They formed a perfect line in front of Zack, each one landing with a heavy thud.
Unlike the sleek and fragile designs often seen in the movies, Zack's armors were built for war. Their reinforced alloy plating gave them a bulkier, more intimidating presence. Each was outfitted with an array of weaponry: shoulder-mounted nine-unit micro-missile pods, palm-mounted pulse cannons, and heavy Vulcan guns similar to those used by his Goliath. Designed for maximum firepower, these armors sacrificed speed and agility for raw destructive potential.
The downside? Their top speed was only Mach 1.5, and they lacked specialized air combat capabilities. But that didn't matter—these units weren't built for dogfights. Their purpose was clear: to rain destruction from above and provide aerial support for Zack's mechanical ground forces. "Let's start with the usual—select a remote area for the test," Zack ordered.